Hong Joon-pyo criticizes politicians for debating military exemptions over 'immature' player's remarks

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo has criticized the political debate over military service exemptions that erupted after inappropriate remarks by members of the South Korean men's football team at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Hong took to Facebook on Thursday to say that the uproar in political circles over a single comment from a young player revealed the sorry state of Korean politics.

He stressed that the system granting military exemptions to Asian Games gold medalists had been in place for a long time. "I don't understand why there is suddenly such an uproar over something that has been part of the Asian Games gold medal reward for so long," Hong said, calling the system "a measure designed to motivate athletes in amateur sports."

He went on to say it was "pathetic" to see Korean politicians debating whether to scrap the system over a single remark from an immature young player, and called arguments for abolishing it on the grounds of a shrinking military manpower pool "absurd."

"How many gold medalists are there, that we should turn all athletes who have brought honor to the country into targets of criticism?" Hong said. "There is no bigger populism than this."

He also said that while the separation of powers was being undermined and the country was heading toward authoritarianism, the best politicians could do at a national audit was argue about this.

The controversy began after several players on the Asian Games football squad made remarks and took actions related to their military exemptions following the team's gold medal win.

Forward Yang Min-hyeok said in a post-victory interview that he had played with an eye on the military exemption rather than the medal or trophy. Defender Park Seung-su posted a photo on social media wearing a military discharge cap after the match, and captain Lee Gi-hyeok also made comments to the effect that winning gold meant he would not have to serve in the military.

Politicians subsequently called for a review of the current sports and arts military exemption system, citing concerns over fairness in military service obligations and a declining pool of eligible conscripts.

At the National Assembly's National Defense Committee national audit on Wednesday, lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties said the arts and sports military exemption system should be scaled back or abolished.

People Power Party lawmaker Lim Jong-deuk called for the exemption system to be scrapped entirely, while fellow PPP lawmaker Yoo Yong-won also raised concerns.

Within the PPP, floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik had already called for a review of those currently eligible for exemptions, and lawmaker Joo Ho-young introduced a bill to exclude Asian Games gold medals from the blanket exemption.