8 Athletes Benefit from Both Military Service Exemptions and Special Housing Allocations

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Last week, we reported that quite a few athletes received special apartment allocations through the "special housing supply for elite athletes" with just a single Asian Games medal. However, it has been confirmed that eight of the athletes who received these special allocations also received military service exemptions. At a parliamentary audit, criticism continued that this constituted unfair preferential treatment.

Reporter Kim Kwan-jin has the story.

[Reporter]

At this apartment complex in Incheon, actual transaction prices have doubled in the five years since presales began in 2021.

[Local Real Estate Agent: Based on the 84-square-meter units, the presale price was in the late 300 million to early 400 million won range. That has now doubled.]

While the competition ratio for general applications was 43 to 1, former national team athlete "A" was allocated a unit without competition through the "special supply system for elite athletes."

This was because of achievements that included podium finishes at the World Championships and the Universiade, and it was confirmed that seven years ago, A also received a military service exemption with an Asian Games team event medal.

It has effectively become a "series of benefits" spanning military service to housing, and out of 72 athletes who benefited from special apartment allocations over the past five years, a total of eight athletes, like A, were found to have also received military service exemptions.

Looking solely at the 41 male athletes subject to military service, it amounted to about one in five.

Yesterday (October 21), at the parliamentary audit of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee.

Criticism mounted that such special exemptions for these athletes amounted to preferential privileges.

Representative Lim O-kyeong of the Democratic Party of Korea, a former national handball player, called for abolishing military service exemptions for the Asian Games.

[Lim O-kyeong / Democratic Party Lawmaker: I also agree that military exemptions for the Asian Games should be abolished. Did you start sports just to get exempt from military service?]

[Ryu Seung-min / President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee: No.]

Ryu Seung-min, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, acknowledged shortcomings in the basic civics and character education of national team athletes, but maintained a cautious stance regarding the abolition of military service exemptions.

[Ryu Seung-min / President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee: There are a great number of amateur athletes. The voices of those athletes must also be reflected...]

There are also widespread calls for stern measures, such as convening disciplinary committees, against sports federations or individual athletes who drew criticism for inappropriate behavior, such as holding "military exemption celebrations" during the last Asian Games.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.