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South Korean ex-lawmaker calls to end military exemptions for athletes
His comments followed a controversy after South Korea’s men’s football team won a fourth straight Asian Games title and drew scrutiny over military benefits they received.
A former South Korean lawmaker urged abolishing the military exemption system that grants national athletes an alternative to mandatory service, saying military duty should not be used as an incentive for achievements in sports or the arts, according to the SCMP Economy.
Yoo Seong-min’s remarks came as South Korea’s men’s football team faced renewed controversy after comments by team members about the military benefits they received.
South Korea beat host Japan 1-0 on Saturday in the men’s final in Toyota near Nagoya, giving the team its fourth consecutive Asian Games title.
The article also notes that able-bodied South Korean males generally must complete 18 months to two years of military service before age 28.