The South Korean government is pushing for a plan to raise the eligibility bar for military service exemptions granted through international arts competitions from second place to first place.

The Military Manpower Administration (MMA) reported the measure during a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly's National Defense Committee on Monday (October 12), stating that it will "tighten inclusion criteria in consideration of changes in national standing and fairness in military service."

For domestic arts competitions in the traditional arts sector, the agency plans to consolidate divisions and reduce the number of individuals eligible for military exemptions from 2 – 3 per competition down to one.

The MMA also pointed out that 86.6% of those enrolled as arts personnel over the past five years were winners of domestic contests, explaining that it will push to reorganize recognized international competitions around prestigious events.

The MMA said it will "overhaul approved competitions in consideration of their prestige, judging fairness, and competitiveness," adding, "We will establish reasonable criteria by gathering expert opinions and consulting with relevant ministries."

Regarding the military service exemption system for athletic personnel, which sparked controversy due to inappropriate conduct and remarks by athletes at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the MMA explained that it will "overhaul qualification standards considering social acceptability" and "devise measures to enhance the social role of public service by utilizing individual talents."

To achieve this, the MMA added that it will revise administrative directives by December this year through consultations with relevant agencies, while continually overhauling the system to reflect the findings of an ongoing policy research study.

The research study commissioned by the MMA to improve the relevant system is scheduled to conclude around the middle of next month.

(Photo: Yonhap News)