Ruling and Opposition Parties Speak with One Voice on "Military Service Exemptions" at Culture Committee, Clash over Assassin(s)

The ruling and opposition parties spoke with one voice on the issue of military service benefits for athletes during the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's parliamentary audit held on October 7. However, they continued to clash over the film "Assassin(s)," which deals with the assassination of First Lady Yuk Young-soo, with each side arguing that it involved "distortion of history" or fell under "freedom of expression."

Yonhap News Agency

The National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee began its audit of the ministry that morning. Issues raised during the audit included controversy over the film "Assassin(s)," military service benefits for some national team athletes in team sports at the recent Asian Games, and related gaffe controversies.

Ruling and opposition lawmakers called for improvements to the military service exemption system. Cho Gyewon of the Democratic Party of Korea said, "The military service exemption system is a form of benefit granted to athletes who have contributed to enhancing the nation's prestige," adding, "The attitudes of athletes who even put on performances that effectively mocked the military have provoked public outrage among young people."

Cho Eunhee of the People Power Party also said, "(The military service exemption system) is meant for athletes to compete with the nation's honor at stake, not to serve as a ticket for professional players to resolve their military service issues." She added, "This is not about disparaging the athletes' efforts; the system is the problem."

Minister Choi responded to these concerns raised by lawmakers from both parties, saying, "(Military service exemptions) will inevitably move in the direction of being scaled back," and added, "I will take a comprehensive look at discussions of fraud and related issues in the arts and sports."

However, the parties continued to clash over the film "Assassin(s)." The People Power Party called for Director Heo, the production company's head, the screenwriter and others to be called as witnesses or other testifiers. Cho Eunhee of the People Power Party said, "The May 18 Democratization Movement, the Sewol ferry disaster and former President Roh Moo-hyun are all off limits, so why should First Lady Yuk Young-soo be treated differently?" She added, "We must also consider the pain and wounds experienced by the victims' bereaved families."

People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Yonggeun asked Minister Choi, "Do you think the public can accept a narrative linking this tragic history to the possibility of an internal power circle plotting it?" and "Is the dramatization of historical events an area where creative freedom is guaranteed without limits?"

In response, Minister Choi said, "This is a matter for the public and audiences to judge. If anyone feels they have suffered serious defamation because of this film, they should respond through legal procedures." He added, "I believe there should be no restrictions on imagination and creativity."

The Democratic Party of Korea, meanwhile, argued that creative freedom should be protected. Democratic Party lawmaker Noh Jongmyeon said, "This is the kind of action that could lead people to say the National Assembly is undermining its own standing." He added, "The National Assembly has a duty to resolve social controversies when they arise, but it is right to exercise restraint, at least in matters of culture and creative work."

Different reactions to the same film were also voiced. People Power Party lawmaker Kim Seokgi said, "I watched it too, and there are so many lies in the film." But Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Minhee said, "After watching it myself, I found nothing in the film that identifies the perpetrator of the tragic incident, the assassination of First Lady Yuk Young-soo," calling the criticism "groundless."

When People Power Party lawmaker Kim Seokgi asked how the government would respond to similar attempts concerning the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun and the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, Minister Choi said, "Freedom of expression is guaranteed under South Korea's Constitution, and prior censorship is strictly prohibited." He added, "The government does not interfere in the content of creative works in any way."

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