Parents of athletes urge public to preserve sports duty exemption system

A group of parents of competitive athletes has moved to contain the fallout after remarks by some players on South Korea's men's football team — who won gold at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games — sparked a growing backlash and calls to abolish the arts and sports military service exemption system.

The Korea Athletes Parents Alliance posted a public appeal on Facebook on Sunday, asking the public to "forgive the players when they acknowledge their wrongs and show through their actions that they have changed," and expressing hope that "the sports duty system will be maintained on the premise of fair standards, strict management and genuine public-interest contributions."

"We parents were also disappointed and angered by the military service-related remarks and social media posts made by some players on the men's football team at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games," the group said. "Their conduct was clearly inappropriate, and we take seriously the sense of betrayal felt by young people currently serving in the military and by citizens who faithfully fulfilled their duty of military service."

The group added that "a national team gold medal carries within it the efforts of teammates and coaches, the dedication of families, and the support and encouragement of the public. Even if military service is a deeply personal concern, that shared achievement must not be expressed as if it were one's own personal benefit alone."

The alliance called on the players to "specifically acknowledge their inappropriate words and actions and offer a sincere apology," and urged the Korea Football Association not to treat the incident as an individual's mistake, demanding a response at the organizational level.

The group also asked the public not to view the incident as representative of all athletes. "There are players who honor the responsibility of wearing the national team jersey and work hard every day, and there are children who train today dreaming of becoming national team members," it said. "For them, sport is a career path they have been preparing for over many years. We parents walk that path with them, bearing training costs and competition fees, enduring injuries and an uncertain future."

The alliance called for the sports duty system to be preserved, arguing that "the experience and skills accumulated on the international stage should flow into developing the next generation and into regional sports education, and be used to expand opportunities for public participation in sport." To that end, it proposed running public service duties as an open system — suggesting specific measures such as programs linking sports duty personnel with regional sports needs, and the public disclosure of evaluations and activity records of host institutions.

"What we are asking is that service management be strengthened so that public-interest contributions can be felt by citizens," the group said. "If athletes' professional expertise can be returned to society while clearly imposing responsibilities commensurate with the opportunities they have received, we ask that reform aimed at realizing that possibility be considered first."

The alliance closed by pledging that "we parents will also make efforts to raise athletes who understand the weight of military service, are grateful for the public's support, and take responsibility for their own words and actions," and asked that "players be given the chance to reflect sincerely and stand upright again."

The controversy began after South Korea's men's football team defeated Japan in the final on Saturday. Team captain Lee Gi-hyeok of Gangwon said in an official post-match interview, "I'm not going to the military," while starting player Yang Min-hyeok of Beerschot said he "played the match with only the military exemption in mind."

Park Seung-su of Premier League club Newcastle United drew criticism after posting a photo of himself wearing a military discharge cap on social media, despite never having served. He later apologized. Critics said the photo was inappropriate given the feelings of those currently serving or who had already completed their military service.