South Korea weighs scrapping athlete military exemptions after Asian Games squad controversy

South Korea is moving closer to overhauling or abolishing its decades-old military service exemption for elite athletes after three members of the men’s football squad sparked national outrage with comments made following their 1-0 Asian Games final victory against Japan.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young told the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on Wednesday that the alternative service programme for athletes and artists “will inevitably have to be scaled back.” Acknowledging the scheme’s historical value, Choi added: “The values attached to fairness and public perceptions of military service have changed. I agree that the system should be comprehensively reviewed once again.”

The controversy centres on remarks from midfielder Yang Min-hyuk, who provided the assist for the decisive goal in the final. “The medal and winning the championship weren’t important. I played the game with only one thing in mind — the reward of a military-service exemption,” Yang said. He joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2025 and is currently on loan at Belgian side Westerlo.

Team captain Lee Gi-hyuk compounded the backlash by holding up his gold medal during a post-match interview and declaring, “I’m not going to the military,” while Newcastle United midfielder Park Seung-soo posted an image on social media wearing a cap associated with soldiers who have completed their service. All three players subsequently issued apologies.

Under South Korean law, most men must complete between 18 and 21 months of military service before the age of 28. A scheme introduced in 1973 allows Olympic medalists and Asian Games gold medalists to substitute that obligation with a three-week basic training period — a provision that has long drawn scrutiny, particularly given that high-profile figures including members of K-pop group BTS are required to serve in full.

Politicians across party lines were swift to condemn the players’ conduct. People Power Party member Ahn Cheol-soo posted on social media: “Some players’ remarks after the match were outrageous,” adding that “even the captain bragged about not having to serve.”

The episode has reignited a broader national debate about whether sporting achievement should entitle individuals to preferential treatment under conscription law, with the minister’s comments suggesting meaningful legislative change is now a genuine possibility.