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People Power Party Representative Joo Ho-young. / Reporter Lee Byung-hwa

Representative Joo Ho-young of the People Power Party introduced a bill on the 7th to abolish military service exemptions granted to athletes who win gold medals at the Asian Games.

Representative Joo sponsored a proposed partial amendment to the Military Service Act that removes the blanket standard for assigning Asian Games first-place winners as arts and sports personnel, allowing transfers only when exceptional contributions are recognized under strict criteria.

Under the amendment, qualification requirements for arts and sports personnel—previously delegated comprehensively to presidential decree—must be clearly defined by statute. The bill also significantly tightens procedures by requiring State Council approval, restricting inclusion solely to individuals recognized for exceptional service that remarkably enhances South Korea's national prestige in the arts and sports fields.

Current law permits individuals possessing specialized skills in the arts and sports who meet requirements established by presidential decree to be assigned as arts and sports personnel. Under the enforcement decree, athletes placing third or higher at the Olympic Games and first-place winners at the Asian Games have been designated as eligible.

However, in the wake of the recently concluded 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, criticism has mounted over whether the current arts and sports personnel system aligns with the public standard of fairness and equity in mandatory military service.

Representative Joo explained the legislative intent, saying, "Because mandatory military service is one of the most fundamental and grave duties imposed on South Korean citizens, exceptions must also be granted minimally and in accordance with strict, fair standards that the public can fully accept."

                                                                                                          Kim Chae-yeon