Is Military Exemption a 'Prize' and Enlistment a 'Punishment'? Calls Grow to Reconsider Special Exemptions

[Anchor]

The national football team, which won the gold medal yesterday (October 3), is drawing criticism for remarks and actions that seemed to treat the "mandatory military service" lightly. Although the players immediately apologized, voices calling for an overhaul of the military service exemption system itself are growing louder.

Reporter Lee Jeong-Chan has the details.

[Reporter]

When the final whistle blew to mark the end of an intense battle and the 1 to 0 victory was confirmed, the players, who achieved an unprecedented fourth consecutive championship, shed heavy tears.

Victory parties followed in various places, but some of the actions and remarks made by players who became eligible for military service benefits through this victory sparked a controversy.

Nineteen-year-old youngest member Park Seung-su faced criticism for mocking military service after posting a verification photo wearing a so-called discharge cap, while remarks by captain Lee Gi-hyuk, who was on the verge of enlisting in the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps, further fueled the controversy.

[Lee Gi-hyuk / Asian Games Men's Football National Team Captain: This was a tournament where military exemption was really important, especially since enlistment was right around the corner for me. (Is it heavy?) I'm not going to the military.]

Lee Gi-hyuk apologized on behalf of the national team immediately after arriving in the country today, but the emotional impact of the players' fighting spirit shown last night had already turned chilly.

[I truly and sincerely want to apologize to everyone currently fulfilling their military service duties. All the players are reflecting on this. I am sorry.]

Previously, the national baseball team also drew public ire by emphasizing only the result of winning the gold medal while ignoring criticisms about their performance in games.

[Noh Si-hwan / Asian Games Baseball National Team Captain: As you can see, we achieved five consecutive titles, and we won the gold medal to show everyone regardless of any such criticism....]

As players continue to display attitudes that seem to treat military service like a form of "punishment," calls are spreading to overhaul the military service exemption system altogether.

People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo pointed out that "military exemption is out of the question for national athletes who loathe the military," while lawmaker Na Kyung-won added that "the problem is not the players, but the outdated system," asserting that the task of reforming the system must begin responsibly.

(Photo courtesy of Yonhap News) Report by Yoo Dong-hyuk | Video by Lee Sang-min | Graphics by Park Taeyoung
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.