Ruling and Opposition Parties Unite in Calling for Review of Military Service Exemptions

Ruling and opposition lawmakers have united in calling for a review of the military service exemption system after the hero of the Asian Games men's soccer gold medal said he would not serve in the military. The trigger was an interview on the 3rd. Lee Ki-hyuk, captain of the national soccer team, said, "Winning the gold medal and receiving military service benefits has made me want to advance to Europe," before adding, "I won't go to the military."

Amid this, the Democratic Party of Korea was the first to raise the issue of fairness. Representative Kim Byung-ju, secretary of the National Defense Committee and special adviser on defense policy, invoked the case of BTS. He pointed out, "There was controversy over whether they should be exempted from military service for making enormous contributions to the national interest, yet BTS members still faithfully fulfilled their duty of national defense," adding, "The value that matters most to young people today is fairness." Representative of the same party Min Hong-chul argued that the military service exemption system should be abolished or drastically scaled back.

The People Power Party echoed the sentiment. Chief Spokesperson Park Sung-hoon noted, "If an exemption is unacceptable to young people who quietly fulfill their military service obligations, it becomes difficult to keep justifying it on the four syllables of 'national prestige' alone." He emphasized, "What should be inscribed first on the heart of a national team athlete is not 'military exemption' but 'Republic of Korea.'" Representative Yoo Yong-won said he would raise the issue of abolishing exemptions for artists and athletes during the National Assembly audit.

With both ruling and opposition parties amplifying calls for revision or abolition of the system, the military service exemption system is expected to be a key agenda item at the upcoming National Assembly audit.