Debate reignited over footballers’ military service

Park Chu-young, a forward of
South Korea’s World Cup squad

By Kim Young-jin
Staff reporter

South Korea’s advancement to the knockout round of the World Cup in South Africa has kicked off a debate over whether to exempt members of the team from their mandatory military service.

By battling to a 2-2 draw with Nigeria on Wednesday, the squad advanced to the round of 16 for the first time on foreign soil.

After the match, Cho Chung-yun, chairman of the Korea Football Association, said he would push for some young players to be awarded the exemption.

All able-bodied men aged 20 or older here are required to serve in the armed forces for at least two years. This means 14 of the 23 players on the roster are subject to mandatory service, including standouts Park Chu-young (forward) and Ki Sung-yueng (midfielder).

“What the players want is exemption from military service," Cho said. “The association will do its best to realize this.”

But a ranking defense ministry offical Thursday attempted to quell speculation, saying the benefit cannot be granted without the revision of relevant laws.

The anonymous official said the issue warrants "careful consideration,” taking into account the current military service law as well as public opinion.

In 2002, the national football team players were exempted from their military obligations after making the semifinals on its home turf. That year, the government revised the law so advancing to the round of 16 at the World Cup or the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic would merit the exemption.

But the revision was withdrawn in 2007 amid criticism it applied only to stars of the most popular sports, and discriminated against the top-shelf athletes of lower-profile ones.

As it stands, the only athletes eligible for the exemption are Olympic medalists and Asian Game gold medalists.

Team captain Park Ji-sung, a member of the 2002 squad, said the exemption should be granted to the younger players so that they can develop their skills, and thereby elevate the standing of South Korean football.

But the ministry official questioned whether Koreans would support another revision.

"If the law changed from event to event, would the public be able to accept that?" the official said. "Unless the National Assembly introduces a revision bill, we'd have no other option but to apply the current law."

The debate appears likely to continue across all sports as South Korea emerges as a force to contend with in the international athletic arena.

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