[Breaking News] Ahn Cheol-soo: "Exemption privileges must be abolished starting from this Asian Games"

The South Korean delegation winning the gold medal in the men's football final at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Newsis
On the 7th, Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party addressed the recent controversy regarding the military service exemption system for the arts and sports sectors, stating, "We must consider abolishing the exemption privilege starting from this Asian Games."
Through his Facebook page today, Rep. Ahn said, "Since the Asian Games gold medal military exemption is regulated by presidential decree rather than law, President Lee Jae-myung can simply make a decision."
He emphasized, "While a gold medal in Asian Games football is certainly a valuable achievement, this achievement must not result solely in private individual gain. Now that our nation's status has changed, overseas expansion and commercial success resulting from military exemption are now the responsibility of the individual athlete, not a benefit to be enjoyed by all citizens."
Rep. Ahn added, "While 'protecting athlete careers' is cited as a basis for the exemption, career interruption is a problem faced equally by all young people in this country. Even at this very moment, wouldn't the young soldiers performing search and guard duties at the front lines also naturally want to work and build their careers?"
He continued, "Artists and athletes like BTS, Lee Chan-hyuk, and WOODZ continue to enhance our national prestige and bring pride to the people even after completing their military service. I urge that the enforcement decree be amended as soon as possible to abolish military exemptions starting with the gold medals from this controversial Asian Games."
Furthermore, Rep. Ahn added, "I believe that President Lee Jae-myung's decision to oppose military exemptions for BTS will help alleviate the sense of deprivation and loss among our youth and contribute to South Korea moving toward a fair and just society. The eligibility for inclusion as arts and sports personnel is stipulated in Article 68-11 of the Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act, so it can be deleted through an amendment to the presidential decree without undergoing National Assembly discussions."