After "Played Only for Military Exemption" Remark, Defense Ministry Considers Drastic Measures?

The Ministry of National Defense has announced that, amid recent controversy over the military service exemption system for arts and sports, it plans to incorporate the reduction and eventual phased abolition of supplementary service personnel, including arts and sports personnel, into its defense reform basic plan.

Defense Ministry Spokesperson Jeong Bit-na stated during a regular briefing today (October 6) that the ministry will "comprehensively take into account equity and fairness among those eligible for military service, the declining pool of military manpower, and public consensus."

[Jeong Bit-na / Defense Ministry Spokesperson: "Ultimately, we plan to include the reduction and phased abolition of supplementary service, including arts and sports personnel, in the defense reform basic plan and move it forward."]

Regarding recent remarks and conduct concerning military service exemptions by some players on the national football team who won the gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Spokesperson Jeong also commented, "From the Defense Ministry's perspective, we deeply regret the words and actions that have emerged from parts of the sports community."

She emphasized, "Military duty is a sacred obligation that every member of our society should respect and hold in noble esteem," adding, "We earnestly hope that a social culture will be established where the value of military service is cherished even more."

Earlier, Yang Min-hyeok of the Asian Games national football team sparked controversy when he said in an interview after winning the gold medal, "Medals and trophies don't matter, and I think I played the match looking only at military exemption."

Player Park Seung-soo posted a photo on social media wearing a discharge cap in the locker room after the match, and team captain Lee Ki-hyuk also mentioned that winning this gold medal meant he would not have to enlist in the military.

Following these actions and remarks by the players, calls have been mounting from political circles and elsewhere to overhaul the military service exemption system for the arts and sports sectors.

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Kim MINJI | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.