"Gold Medal Only for Military Exemption?" 6 in 10 Alternative-Service Beneficiaries Are Artists: A Look at the Criteria

35 International and Domestic Arts Competitions Recognized
Fairness Debate Over Alternative Service Resurfaces
Calls in Political Circles to Scale Back or Abolish the System
Military Manpower Administration Also Supports a Gradual Scale-Back

The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games have reignited debate over fairness in the special military service system for the arts and sports. In particular, as figures show that arts personnel accounted for more than 60% of those assigned special military service status over the past 10 years, calls are growing to review the system as a whole.

On October 14, Yonhap News Agency fact-checked the number of people assigned as arts and sports personnel from 2016 to 2025, citing data from the Military Manpower Administration and the National Assembly National Defense Committee.

The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games have reignited debate over fairness in the special military service exemption system for the arts and sports. Kang Jinhyung, reporteraymsdream@

A total of 350 people were assigned as arts and sports personnel. Of these, 220 were arts personnel, accounting for about 62.9% of the total. Sports personnel numbered 130, or 37.1%. In the most recent five-year period, from 2021 to 2025, a total of 175 people were assigned special military service status, including 97 arts personnel and 78 sports personnel. From January through August this year, 23 people were assigned: 17 arts personnel and six sports personnel.

The number eligible for special military service this year is expected to grow further with the addition of athletes who won gold medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which closed on October 4. At the Games, the athletes eligible for special military service included 20 members of the men's national soccer team, 16 baseball players and eight basketball players.

Olympics: Bronze or Better; Asian Games: Gold...35 Arts Competitions Recognized

The arts and sports personnel system was introduced in 1973. Its purpose is to help artists and athletes who achieve outstanding results in international competitions maintain their expertise while fulfilling their military service obligations. However, the criteria for assignment differ between the two fields. Sports personnel must place third or higher at the Olympics or win gold at the Asian Games. Winning a world championship or an Asian championship is not included under the current criteria.

Arts personnel, by contrast, may qualify if they place second or higher in an international arts competition designated by the Military Manpower Administration, or place first in a designated domestic competition in a field with no international competition. Completing at least five years of training in the transmission of a state-designated intangible cultural heritage is also recognized. Currently, 35 arts competitions qualify for special military service status: 25 international music competitions, five international dance competitions and five domestic competitions.

On the 17th, examinees undergo physical examinations at the No. 1 Military Service Examination Center of the Seoul Regional Military Manpower Administration in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, where the first military service examination of 2021 was held. /Photo by Kim Hyunmin (kimhyun81@)

These include the International Chopin Piano Competition, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, the Queen Elisabeth Competition and the Geneva International Music Competition. In Korea, recognized competitions include the Dong-A Korean Traditional Music Competition, the Jeonju Daesaseupnori National Competition and the Dong-A Dance Competition. The number of recognized competitions fell from 148 in 2008 to 48 in 2015, 42 in 2020, 36 in 2023 and 35 in 2024. The Military Manpower Administration reviews factors such as eligibility for membership in associations related to international competitions and how often the competitions are held as it updates the list of recognized competitions.

Not Actually Exempt from Military Service...34 Months of Service and 544 Hours of Volunteer Work Required

Although assignment as arts and sports personnel is often called a "military service exemption," it is legally different from exemption from military service obligations. Arts and sports personnel are assigned to supplementary service and fulfill their military service obligations by working in their fields of expertise instead of serving as active-duty soldiers. They must complete four weeks of basic military training and perform 544 hours of volunteer work using their expertise during their 34-month mandatory service period.

Volunteer work includes providing cultural, arts or sports instruction to vulnerable groups, teaching children and young people, and participating in performances and public-interest campaigns. Violating service regulations or failing to fulfill volunteer work obligations can result in an extension of the service period or cancellation of the assignment. According to Military Manpower Administration data, a total of seven assignments as arts and sports personnel were canceled from 2021 to 2025: five in 2022 and two in 2023. The individuals concerned failed to fulfill their obligations within the additional time they were given, even after their service periods had been extended because they had not completed the required volunteer hours.

85% of Arts Personnel Came Through Competitions Held in Korea...Fairness Controversy

The fact that a considerable number of arts personnel are winners of competitions held in Korea is also seen as a source of controversy. According to data obtained by Sung Il-jong, a People Power Party member of the National Assembly National Defense Committee, of the 216 people assigned as arts personnel from 2017 through August this year, 104 were winners of domestic competitions, accounting for 48.1%.

Criteria for Assignment as Arts and Sports Personnel. Military Manpower Administration

The figure rises to 184 when winners of international competitions held in Korea, such as the Seoul International Music Competition and the Korea International Ballet Competition, are included. That amounts to 85.2% of the total. By competition, the Seoul International Dance Competition had the most former participants among those assigned, with 32. It was followed by the Dong-A Korean Traditional Music Competition with 27, the Jeonju Daesaseupnori National Competition with 23, and the National Rookie Dance Competition with 19.

Another factor cited as affecting the number of people assigned is that many international arts competitions held overseas take place every two to five years, while competitions held in Korea are held annually. The fact that a competition is held in Korea does not, by itself, mean that its winners are less skilled or that the level of competition is lower. However, some argue that the rationale for the assignment criteria should be examined rather than relying simply on how often competitions are held, given differences in international prestige, participant numbers and judging methods.

The sports sector has also faced controversy over the fairness of special military service criteria. When South Korea reached the semifinals of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup and the 2006 World Baseball Classic (WBC), the eligibility criteria were temporarily expanded based on the teams' results in those competitions. However, criticism that varying the criteria according to results in specific sports was unfair led to World Cup and WBC results being excluded from consideration starting in 2008. The current criteria remain a top-three finish at the Olympics or first place at the Asian Games.

Calls to Scale Back or Abolish Special Military Service Status Resurface... "Measures Needed to Maintain Skills"

The central question in the recent debate over the arts and sports personnel system is what criteria should be applied to balance contributions to the nation with fairness in military service obligations. Some argue that people who have raised the nation's profile through their results in international competitions should be supported in maintaining their expertise, while others say it is unfair to grant military service benefits only for achievements in certain fields.

Defense Minister Kang Shincheol answers lawmakers' questions about the military service exemption system during a National Assembly audit at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 7th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin.

In particular, while the sports sector uses results from a limited number of competitions, the Olympics and Asian Games, numerous international and domestic competitions are recognized in the arts sector, prompting calls to revise the criteria for each field. Politicians have also called for considering a gradual reduction or abolition of the system. However, it was emphasized that practical support measures should be put in place alongside any reduction so that arts and sports personnel can maintain their expertise and skills while serving in the military. At a recent parliamentary audit, the Military Manpower Administration also said it agreed with gradually scaling back the system and ultimately abolishing it.

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