You made the service seem like a punishment; / the possibility of canceling the military exemption of football players

The controversial jubilation of South Korean soccer players after winning the Asian Games has sparked a wave of criticism and prompted the country's government to review the athletes' military exemption law.

According to Sports Three, the exemption from military service for South Korean soccer players who won gold medals in the last Asian Games has become a controversial issue after the wave of criticism of the way they celebrated. To the extent that the authorities of this country have thought of ending this exemption.

In South Korea, men who are physically able to serve in the military are usually required to serve between 18 months and two years before reaching the age of 28. However, the government has provided an exemption for athletes who win a gold medal in the Asian Games or any medal in the Olympic Games. Athletes subject to this law only have to go through three weeks of basic military training and perform 544 hours of community service related to their specialty over a 34-month period.

"I won't do military service," South Korea captain Lee Ji-hyuk beamed after defeating hosts Japan in the soccer tournament final earlier this month. He further explained that if his team did not win the championship, he would have to go to the barracks nine days later.

The publication of a video of Park Sung-soo, a player of the youth team of Newcastle United, also fueled this controversy. In the video, he was smiling as he performed a military salute while wearing his military discharge cap askew.

Of course, these two players apologized after the controversy. Lee, a 26-year-old defender who plays in South Korea's domestic league, described his comments as "ill-considered".

However, South Korea's Sports Minister Chae Hui-yong said during a parliamentary oversight session last Wednesday: "I think there is a broad public consensus that the system needs to be fairer and subject to stricter criteria. We have no choice but to limit this exemption."

Korea's sports minister also announced that relevant government agencies will work together to formulate "comprehensive measures" in this regard, but did not provide further details.

South Korea's Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul also announced in a separate meeting that his ministry's goal is to "gradually reduce exemptions until they are completely abolished."

An official familiar with the conscription process, who spoke to Ambassador Arjan on condition of anonymity, said: "This controversy clearly showed that military exemptions, even though only a few dozen people benefit from them each year, are seen as a kind of reward."

He added that the public flaunting of the exemption by a limited number of lucky people, as if they had received a reward, makes military service a symbolic punishment for the approximately 180,000 young men who are called to serve the country every year.

South Korea and North Korea are still technically at war, as the 1950-1953 conflict between the two countries ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. However, under a system adopted in 1973, athletes who win medals at the Olympics and the Asian Games, as well as artists who win certain competitions, can benefit from military exemption. The justification of this law is "enhancement of national status and promotion of culture".

Exemption from military service is a sensitive issue in South Korea, and athletes usually avoid talking about it publicly.

Son Heung-min, the former England Tottenham star, is one of the most well-known examples of having this exemption. He was exempted from military service after leading the South Korean national team to the championship and winning the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. After the finals of those competitions, Son said in response to a question about his exemption: "Instead of thinking about it, we came here to win these competitions."

Following increasing pressure to reform this law, South Korea's Military Manpower Administration has already started a review of this system. This review also includes eligibility criteria for exemption and requirements related to performing public services. This review is expected to be completed by the middle of next month.