[Exclusive] 70% of Asian Games military exemptions go to soccer and baseball... Government maintains system despite considering abolition

[Exclusive] 70% of Asian Games military exemptions go to soccer and baseball... Government maintains system despite considering abolition
https://v.daum.net/v/20261014102547454
It has been revealed that 7 out of 10 athletes who received military exemptions through the Asian Games were soccer or baseball players. In particular, the concentration of benefits in specific team sports was prominent, with 20 soccer players receiving exemptions from a single gold medal. While the government recognized these equity concerns and even considered a complete abolition of the system, it has been confirmed that they ultimately decided to maintain the current system.
According to data submitted by the Military Manpower Administration to Rep. Kim Byung-joo of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, a total of 98 athletes were designated as sports personnel through the 2018 Indonesia and 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. Among them, 40 were soccer players and 28 were baseball players, meaning 68 athletes (69.4%) received military exemptions from these two sports alone.