Should BTS be exempted from military service? Son Heung-min's exemption from duty sparks debate over conscription system
- 6 years ago
While all healthy men in South Korea are required by law to serve in the military for around two years,... certain individuals are granted exemptions for outstanding achievements in sports or culture.
It's been the policy since the early 1970s,... but debate continues about whether or not it's fair.
Public opinion is basically split down the middle, but there could be moves to adapt the system or possibly even scrapping it altogether.
Oh Soo-young reports.
South Korean authorities are discussing how to revise military exemption conditions for professional athletes and cultural artists,... amid concerns that the best years of their careers are interrupted by mandatory service.
This comes after English Premier League star Son Heung-min and 19 of his South Korea teammates secured exemption from military duty,... by winning Gold at the 2018 Asian Games, beating Japan by two goals to one in the final.
All able-bodied South Korean males aged between 18 and 35 are required to serve about 21 months in the military,... but athletes who win an Olympic medal or Asian Games gold medal are exempt from conscription.
They are, instead, required to complete four weeks of basic training,... 34 months in their area of specialty,... and 544 hours of community service.
The medal-based system, however, has been criticized as a one-shot approach.
Those in the sporting industry have called for a fairer mileage system that would require professional athletes to stack up points by participating in major international matches.
At a press conference on Sunday,.. following the closing ceremony of the Asian Games,... Korean sporting authorities said they would review the situation.
"We will take another look at all the problems surrounding the issue and consider awarding exemptions when the players reach a certain level of mileage points."
This would help them further develop their professional sporting careers and give them a better chance of playing for foreign teams.
Those in cultural industry are also demanding changes.
Under the current system, musicians and cultural performers who win first place in domestic competitions or second place in international contests can be excused from service.
As such competitions tend to be limited to classical music, an opposition lawmaker on Monday raised the need to consider exempting mainstream artists such as BTS, for their contribution to promoting Korea.
However, there's likely to resistance against any easing of laws on duty requirements.
The government's Military Affairs Director Ki Chan-soo said Monday that, with the country's declining population,... it is all the more necessary to maintain troop numbers.
Saying officials will conduct a full review of the conscription system,... he floated the idea of scrapping exemption conditions altogether.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
It's been the policy since the early 1970s,... but debate continues about whether or not it's fair.
Public opinion is basically split down the middle, but there could be moves to adapt the system or possibly even scrapping it altogether.
Oh Soo-young reports.
South Korean authorities are discussing how to revise military exemption conditions for professional athletes and cultural artists,... amid concerns that the best years of their careers are interrupted by mandatory service.
This comes after English Premier League star Son Heung-min and 19 of his South Korea teammates secured exemption from military duty,... by winning Gold at the 2018 Asian Games, beating Japan by two goals to one in the final.
All able-bodied South Korean males aged between 18 and 35 are required to serve about 21 months in the military,... but athletes who win an Olympic medal or Asian Games gold medal are exempt from conscription.
They are, instead, required to complete four weeks of basic training,... 34 months in their area of specialty,... and 544 hours of community service.
The medal-based system, however, has been criticized as a one-shot approach.
Those in the sporting industry have called for a fairer mileage system that would require professional athletes to stack up points by participating in major international matches.
At a press conference on Sunday,.. following the closing ceremony of the Asian Games,... Korean sporting authorities said they would review the situation.
"We will take another look at all the problems surrounding the issue and consider awarding exemptions when the players reach a certain level of mileage points."
This would help them further develop their professional sporting careers and give them a better chance of playing for foreign teams.
Those in cultural industry are also demanding changes.
Under the current system, musicians and cultural performers who win first place in domestic competitions or second place in international contests can be excused from service.
As such competitions tend to be limited to classical music, an opposition lawmaker on Monday raised the need to consider exempting mainstream artists such as BTS, for their contribution to promoting Korea.
However, there's likely to resistance against any easing of laws on duty requirements.
The government's Military Affairs Director Ki Chan-soo said Monday that, with the country's declining population,... it is all the more necessary to maintain troop numbers.
Saying officials will conduct a full review of the conscription system,... he floated the idea of scrapping exemption conditions altogether.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.