Korea Asian Games team returns; KSOC chief apologises over exemption remarks
Version 2: The Korean delegation has now returned home and the sports body's president, Yoo Seung-min, has apologised to the public and to soldiers over athletes' remarks about military service benefits, after earlier reports of a former lawmaker's call to scrap the exemption and cross-party demands for an overhaul.
In short
South Korea's Asian Games delegation returned home on Oct 5 after finishing third overall with 39 gold medals, and Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung-min apologised to the public and to soldiers for some athletes' remarks about military service benefits. The team missed its target of 40 to 45 golds but took a third consecutive third place overall. The apology came as debate over the 50-year-old exemption for athletes and artists was reignited, with ruling and opposition lawmakers calling for it to be overhauled or scrapped.
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South Korea's Asian Games delegation returned home through Incheon International Airport on Oct 5, and Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung-min apologised to the public and to service members over comments some athletes made about military service benefits. At a disbandment ceremony combined with a welcoming event, Yoo said, “I offer deep apologies on behalf of the KSOC to the people and to our service members who were hurt by the careless remarks of some athletes.” [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]
About 80 to 90 people arrived on the flight, including delegation chief Lee Sang-hyun and the tennis, wrestling, rhythmic gymnastics, breaking and sport climbing teams, with most other athletes having returned earlier as their events ended. Korea finished third overall with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze medals, behind China (169-89-83) and Japan (83-95-91). It was a third consecutive third-place finish after Jakarta-Palembang 2018 and Hangzhou 2022, though the team's stated target of 40 to 45 gold medals was not met. [ 6 , 7 ]
Yoo praised the athletes, saying those who did their best without complaint in difficult conditions abroad were deeply appreciated, and that the pride of overcoming hardship would be a brilliant medal for their futures. Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young, who met the team at the airport, said their sweat and passion had moved the public. [ 6 , 7 , 10 ]
The homecoming followed a day of renewed debate over the exemption. A former lawmaker named Yoo Seung-min wrote on Facebook on Oct 5 that the criteria for exempting athletes and artists from military service should be abolished, calling it “basically a question of principle and of the system”. He cited BTS, asking whether it is fair that its members must serve while Asian Games gold medallists are exempted, and said that however the line is drawn — between the Olympics, the World Cup and the Asian Games, or between gold and silver or bronze — disputes over fairness would not disappear. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Lawmakers from both parties called for change. Ruling party Rep. Kim Byung-joo, recently appointed a presidential special adviser on defence policy, said the 53-year-old system should be reorganised step by step. Former defence committee chairman Min Hong-chul said it should be abolished or sharply reduced, opposition spokesman Park Sung-hoon said it must be re-examined without exception, and opposition Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo said the Asian Games exemption should be reconsidered. According to the Military Manpower Administration, the exemption was created in March 1973, sharply narrowed in 1990 to Olympic medals and Asian Games gold, expanded in 2002 and 2006, and its World Cup and World Baseball Classic clauses were deleted in 2008. Sports circles counter that it helps young athletes avoid career breaks and supports competitors in less popular disciplines. [ 5 ]
The next Asian Games is scheduled for Doha, Qatar, in 2030, though one outlet reported that a one-year delay is being discussed because of the event's standing and attendance. [ 7 ]
Why it matters
The sports body's public apology puts it inside a dispute that lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties now say should lead to legislation, and the exemption's criteria have been unchanged in their core for more than 50 years. Any revision would affect young athletes and artists who rely on the system, and the outcome would shape how South Korea apportions a mandatory military service burden that BTS members and other young men also carry.
Key facts
- South Korea's Asian Games delegation returned through Incheon International Airport on Oct 5, led by KSOC President Yoo Seung-min and delegation chief Lee Sang-hyun, with a welcoming event and disbandment ceremony. [ 6 , 7 , 10 ]
- Korea finished third overall at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze medals, behind China (169-89-83) and Japan (83-95-91). [ 6 , 7 ]
- It was Korea's third consecutive third-place finish after Jakarta-Palembang 2018 and Hangzhou 2022, but the stated target of 40 to 45 gold medals was not met. [ 6 ]
- Yoo Seung-min apologised on behalf of the KSOC to the public and to service members over remarks some athletes made about military service benefits. [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]
- A former lawmaker named Yoo Seung-min wrote on Facebook that the sports and arts military service exemption should be abolished, citing BTS serving while Asian Games gold medallists are exempted. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Lawmakers from both parties called for the exemption to be overhauled, sharply reduced or scrapped, and the system dates to March 1973. [ 5 ]
- The next Asian Games is scheduled for Doha, Qatar, in 2030, with a one-year delay under discussion. [ 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- South Korea's Asian Games delegation returned home through Incheon International Airport on Oct 5, and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee and the Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry held a welcoming event and disbandment ceremony. [ 6 , 7 , 10 ]
- KSOC President Yoo Seung-min apologised to the public and to service members over remarks some athletes made about military service benefits. [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]
- Korea finished third overall at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze medals. [ 6 , 7 ]
- A former lawmaker named Yoo Seung-min called for abolishing the military service exemption for sports and arts, citing BTS, which he said must serve while Asian Games gold medallists are exempted. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young met the returning team at the airport and praised the athletes. [ 6 , 7 , 10 ]
- The men's national football team won a fourth consecutive Asian Games gold, beating Japan in the Oct 3 final. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Which athletes made the remarks that triggered the criticism, and what they said. The documents refer generally to “careless remarks” and slips of the tongue by football and baseball players without quoting them or naming who said what.
- Whether the National Assembly will legislate on the exemption. One outlet says attention is on whether the debate leads to legislation, but no bill, vote or government decision is reported.
- Whether the former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min who proposed scrapping the exemption and KSOC President Yoo Seung-min who apologised are the same person. The Oct 4-5 reports describe a former lawmaker named Yoo Seung-min, while the homecoming reports describe the KSOC president by the same name; the documents do not state that they are the same person.
- The flag-raising problem at the football medal ceremony and a judo athlete's disqualification over weight. Both are reported by a single outlet among the Games' controversies and are not corroborated elsewhere in this set.
- Whether the 2030 Doha Asian Games will be delayed. One outlet says a one-year delay is being discussed for reasons of the event's standing and attendance; no decision is reported.
- The position of the government or the military authorities on changing the exemption. No ministry statement on revising the system appears in the documents; the sports minister is quoted only praising the athletes.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- South Korea beats Japan in the men's football final at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture for a fourth consecutive Asian Games gold. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games close after a tournament one outlet describes as marked by poor operations and repeated controversy, including the national flag failing to reach the top of the pole at the football medal ceremony. [ 1 ]
- An outlet publishes a report on Yoo Seung-min's call to scrap the military service exemption. [ 1 ]
- Yoo Seung-min writes on Facebook that the sports and arts military service exemption should be abolished, saying BTS members serve while Asian Games gold medallists are exempted. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- An outlet reports that ruling and opposition lawmakers are calling for the exemption to be reshaped, sharply reduced or scrapped. [ 5 ]
- The Korean delegation returns through Incheon International Airport and, at the disbandment ceremony, Yoo Seung-min apologises to the public and soldiers over some athletes' remarks on military service benefits. [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]