Table tennis star Shin Yu-bin, 20, has been dubbed a “legal military exemption broker” by sports fans after winning a Paris Olympic bronze medal in mixed doubles with her partner Lim Jong-hoon, 27.
The nickname was bestowed upon Shin sarcastically as her performance enabled Lim to avoid active military service by qualifying as “arts and sports personnel,” a status given to star athletes and artists for enhancing the “national prestige.”
As Korea’s military exemption policies for athletes and artists come under renewed scrutiny, the recent Olympic achievements of Shin and others have reignited debates about fairness and the need for reform.
The issue centers on whether winning an Olympic medal should still offer athletes exemption from mandatory military service, a privilege that has long been controversial.
This exemption allows athletes to fulfill their service through alternative duties, such as public service, after basic military training.
Lim, who was nearing the age limit for military exemption eligibility, had seen his chances dwindle after missing out on a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where he earned silver in men’s doubles and bronze in mixed doubles.
With the Paris Olympics being potentially his last shot, his partnership with Shin proved pivotal in securing his exemption.
However, for men who have not yet completed their military service, this Olympic stage may be their last chance to secure an exemption through winning a 추천 medal, as the controversy surrounding these exemptions has prompted the government to reconsider the system.
The Ministry of National Defense and the Military Manpower Administration are forming a task force to explore reforms that could be implemented before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
A government official told the Hankook Ilbo on Friday that a conclusion on potential revisions to the arts and sports personnel exemption policy is expected by the end of the year, although the exact timing of discussions remains undetermined.
The calls for reform have persisted for over a decade. Critics argue that the military exemption system, which was introduced in 1973 to reward athletes and artists for elevating the national prestige, no longer aligns with modern standards of fairness and equity.
The system has been criticized for disproportionately benefiting men and for focusing on achievements in specific international competitions, such as the Olympics and Asian Games.