"Military Exemption Not Enough? Even KRW 2.3 Billion in Special Housing Gains?... Heated Debate Over Asian Games National Team Benefits"

Following Military Service Exemption, Medalists Eligible to Apply for 'Outstanding Athlete Special Housing Provision'

Eligibility Extends to Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medalists at the Olympics and World Championships

Amid controversy over comments made by some members of the men's national soccer team who won gold at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games regarding their military service exemptions and posts of pictures in "discharge hats," there is renewed attention on the special housing provision benefits granted to athletes achieving results at international competitions.

Soccer national team player Seungsoo Park, after winning the Asian Games gold medal on the 4th, revealed a photo wearing a discharge cap on his social media (SNS). Screenshot from Seungsoo Park's Instagram

Medalists Eligible to Apply for 'Outstanding Athlete Special Housing Provision'

According to current "Regulations on Housing Supply," outstanding athletes who place third or higher at major international competitions, such as the Olympics and World Championships, may qualify for institution-recommended special provision of public housing and private housing units under 85 square meters in exclusive space.

The Asian Games, organized by the Asian Games Organizing Committee, are also included in these benefits. This means that, in addition to gold medalists, silver and bronze medalists can apply for special provision if certain conditions are met. For team events, the competition must feature more than 15 participating countries, while for individual events, more than 10 countries must participate.

However, winning a medal does not mean athletes are immediately allocated an apartment. As of the housing application announcement date, the applicant must be a member of a household without home ownership, and must also meet location and housing savings account requirements for each complex.

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee recruits applicants through affiliated sport organizations before determining recommendation rankings based on international competition results, among other selection criteria. Even recommended athletes must apply directly through platforms such as Cheongyak Home and undergo qualification screening.

In fact, recruitment notices for outstanding athlete special housing provision recommendations are posted regularly on the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee's website. Most recently, on the 1st, a notice was posted recruiting a total of 11 eligible candidates for housing complexes such as the Incheon Gyeyang Technovalley public housing district.

Popular Complexes in Gangnam Also Allocated... Up to KRW 2.3 Billion in Capital Gains Possible

The special housing provision system for outstanding athletes was introduced in 1983. It was implemented to boost athletes' morale ahead of the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

DH Zai Gaepo. Hyundai Engineering & Construction

There have been cases where units for outstanding athletes were allocated in popular complexes. In 2016, one household was set aside at "Raemian Central Suite" in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, and in 2018, two units were allocated at "DH Xi Gaepo" in Gangnam District, Seoul. In 2021, "Geomdan New Town Umirin Parkview" in Incheon recruited 10 households, and in March this year, four households were allocated at "Geomdan Lake Park Station Paragon."

The program has continued to spark controversy over fairness, especially because popular complexes are supplied at prices lower than market value, making significant capital gains possible. For example, DH Xi Gaepo’s 84㎡ unit, which was supplied in 2018 at a sale price of around KRW 1.4 billion, now trades at approximately KRW 3.7 billion, presenting a difference of about KRW 2.3 billion in simple terms. However, this does not mean that the athlete who won the special supply lottery still owns the property today.

Aftermath of "No Need to Serve in the Military" Remarks... Ministry of National Defense Announces System Reform

The current controversy began as members of the men's national soccer team, having secured their fourth consecutive gold medal with a 1-0 win over Japan in the Asian Games final, made statements highlighting their military service exemption benefits.

The men's soccer team of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games achieved a four consecutive championship streak, and team captain Lee Kihyuk returned home through Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 4th, giving an interview to the press. Photo by News1

Team captain Lee Kihyeok commented in a post-victory interview, "No need to serve in the military," and revealed that had he not won the gold medal, there would have been only nine days left before his enlistment upon returning to Korea.

Minhyuk Yang added, "What mattered to us wasn’t the medal or the trophy, but the reward of exemption from military service. That was the only thing on our minds during the match." Meanwhile, Seungsoo Park posted a photo on social media wearing a "discharge hat" with the gold medal around his neck.

As criticism grew, the three athletes each issued apologies. Lee Kihyeok stated that, as captain, he should have been more mindful of the weight of his words. Minhyuk Yang explained that he failed to properly convey that military service exemption was just one of several motivations. Seungsoo Park clarified that he only wore a hat handed to him by a fan at the scene and had no intention of mocking those currently serving in the military.

The ongoing controversy has prompted renewed calls for a review of special military service exemptions and various support programs for athletes and artists. During a regular briefing on the 6th, the Ministry of National Defense announced that reform of the supplementary service system, including for art and sports personnel, would be included in the National Defense Reform Master Plan and that possible reductions or abolitions are under consideration.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.