[2026 National Assembly Audit] KSOC President Yoo Seungmin: "Abolishing Asian Games Military Exemptions Must Reflect Amateur Athletes' Voices"

“Some professional athletes are costing others their opportunities”
“A cautious approach is also needed... the system should be revised appropriately”

Yoo Seung-min, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, took a cautious stance on calls to fully abolish military service exemptions for Asian Games gold medalists, saying the views of amateur athletes should also be considered.

At a parliamentary audit of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee by the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on the 21st, Yoo responded to Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Im Oh-kyung’s call to “abolish military exemptions for Asian Games athletes,” saying, “We need to take a cautious approach, considering that other athletes could lose their opportunities because of some professional athletes.”

Yoo added, “This issue arose because of the conduct of some professional athletes, but we should also reflect the voices of amateur athletes. I believe the system should be revised appropriately overall.”

Yonhap News Agency

Calls to abolish military service exemptions for Asian Games gold medalists resurfaced following the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which concluded earlier this month. Some professional athletes drew criticism after directly bringing up military service benefits upon winning gold medals.

Under the current Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act, athletes who place third or higher at the Olympics and those who win first place at the Asian Games may be assigned to serve as art and sports personnel. The system was introduced in 1973 to allow outstanding artists and athletes who contribute to enhancing national prestige and promoting culture to serve in their respective fields instead of performing military service. However, debate has continued over whether it is appropriate to link results at specific international competitions directly to military service benefits, as the pool of eligible military personnel has shrunk due to low birth rates and the international standing of sports has changed. Controversy over some athletes’ remarks and conduct related to military service at this Asian Games has renewed calls to reform the system.

Im also pointed to the need to strengthen ethics education for national team athletes.

In response, Yoo said, “We continue to provide ethics and character education for each sport, and we explain the relevant guidelines in detail before competitions.” However, he added, “It is true that there have been limitations because baseball and soccer are not sports for which athletes live at the training center.”

Yun Yong-geun of the People Power Party said there was a need to expand opportunities to enlist in the Armed Forces Athletic Corps, known as Sangmu, which allows athletes to continue their sporting careers while fulfilling their military service. Yun said enlistment opportunities vary widely by sport and stressed the need to expand them for winter sports, particularly since biathlon is currently the only winter sport represented in the corps.

Lee Sun-young, director general of sports at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the ministry was holding working-level consultations with the Ministry of National Defense and would promptly develop ways to expand enlistment opportunities in Sangmu for winter sports athletes.

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