South Korea Reviews Arts and Sports Military-Service Exemptions as Defense Ministry Sets Abolition Goal

South Korea is moving toward a broader review of its military-service system for qualifying artists and athletes, with the Defense Ministry now publicly identifying eventual abolition as its goal.

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul told lawmakers during a National Assembly audit on October 7 that the ministry intends to gradually reduce the existing military-service benefits and ultimately eliminate them.

His comments followed renewed scrutiny of the system after members of South Korea’s gold-medal-winning men’s football team drew criticism for remarks and social-media posts about receiving military-service benefits following the 2026 Asian Games.

No abolition has been enacted, and the government has not announced a timetable for ending the system.

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young separately told lawmakers that his ministry would conduct a broader review, gathering opinions from the sports and arts communities and consulting with the Ministry of National Defense and the Military Manpower Administration.

Choi acknowledged that the system has helped accomplished artists and athletes maintain and develop their careers, but said public attitudes toward military service and fairness have changed over time.

The system commonly described as a military-service exemption formally places qualifying athletes and artists into supplementary service as “art and sports personnel” rather than simply removing their military obligation.

Under current rules, eligibility includes athletes who finish third or higher at the Olympics or win gold at the Asian Games, along with people who meet specified results in designated arts competitions and certain other arts qualifications.

Success as a popular entertainer or K-pop artist does not by itself qualify someone for the arts category.

That distinction has repeatedly fueled debate over the system’s fairness. During the October 7 audit, lawmakers again raised BTS as an example while questioning why some forms of international achievement can lead to alternative military service while globally successful popular artists remain outside the system.

Kang responded that military service is fundamentally an obligation for everyone and said the ministry would continue developing its response to the issue.

The latest comments represent a significant shift in the government-level debate because the Defense Ministry is no longer discussing only adjustments to eligibility. Its minister has now explicitly identified eventual abolition as the ministry’s objective, while the Culture Ministry has committed to participating in a comprehensive review.

For now, however, the existing system remains in force and any changes will require further government action.