[E-Daily Reporter kim kwanyong ] The Ministry of National Defense expressed “deep regret” regarding the controversy over remarks made by some players on the men’s national soccer team for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games regarding so-called “military exemptions.” The ministry also decided to reflect and implement a plan in its Basic Defense Reform Plan to gradually reduce and eventually abolish the supplementary service system—which includes personnel in the arts and sports—taking into account the declining pool of conscripts and the need for equity among those subject to mandatory military service.

At a regular briefing on the 6th, Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Jeong Bit-na responded to a question regarding the controversy over special military service exemptions for the Asian Games by stating, “After comprehensively considering equity and fairness among those subject to military service, the declining pool of conscripts, and public consensus, we plan to reflect and implement the phased reduction and eventual abolition of the supplementary service system—including exemptions for arts and sports personnel—in the Basic Plan for Defense Reform.”

She expressed unusually strong regret regarding the recent controversial remarks made by some athletes. Spokesperson Jeong said, “From the Ministry of National Defense’s perspective, we deeply regret the words and actions that have emerged from certain sectors of the sports community,” adding, “Military service is a sacred duty that all members of our society must respect and hold in high regard.”

She went on to emphasize, “I earnestly hope that the dedication of our military personnel and reservists, who are fulfilling their civic duty even at this very moment, will be respected by all citizens, and that a sociocultural environment will take root in which the value of military service is held in even higher regard.”

This controversy arose after some members of the national team made remarks regarding military service benefits following their victory over Japan in the men’s soccer final at the Asian Games on the 3rd, which earned them the gold medal. Some players sparked controversy by making remarks immediately after the match to the effect that they “would not have to serve in the military” or that they had competed with the goal of receiving military service benefits. Subsequently, Yoo Seung-min, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, stated at the team’s disbandment ceremony upon their return on the 5th, “On behalf of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, I apologize to the public and the service members of the Armed Forces who were hurt by the thoughtless remarks of some players.”

In political circles as well, calls are mounting to revise the current system for arts and sports personnel. Ahn Kyu-baek, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who served as the first Minister of National Defense under the Lee Jae-myung administration, argued that special military service exemptions for the arts and sports sectors should be abolished, citing the declining pool of conscripts. Similarly, within the People Power Party, arguments have been raised that the current criteria should be redesigned or the system itself abolished.

Under the current Military Service Act, athletes who win first place at the Asian Games are eligible to be classified as sports service personnel. Although this is commonly referred to as a “military exemption,” legally speaking, it does not constitute an exemption from the military service obligation itself. Sports service personnel are classified as reserve forces and serve for 34 months in their respective sports fields under the command and supervision of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; during their service, they must also complete 544 hours of volunteer work utilizing their specialized skills.

However, the Ministry of National Defense’s push to reform the supplementary service system is not a policy that was newly reviewed in response to the controversy surrounding these Asian Games. The Ministry has been considering the reduction or abolition of the supplementary service system as part of its defense reform measures to address the decline in military manpower due to low birth rates, alongside a selective conscription system, adjustments to the length of service, and a reorganization of the defense personnel management system.

As the Ministry of National Defense reaffirmed its policy to reduce or abolish the supplementary service system by specifically mentioning arts and sports personnel today, it appears that the continuation or abolition of the current arts and sports personnel system, along with plans for its reorganization, will also be discussed during the process of establishing the basic defense reform plan.