South Korea plans to reduce military service exemptions granted to elite athletes following public criticism sparked by recent celebrations from members of the national football team.

In South Korea, able-bodied men are generally required to serve between 18 months and two years in the military before turning 28. However, exceptions have been made for athletes who win gold medals at the Asian Games or any medal at the Olympic Games, allowing them to bypass full military service in favor of a brief period of basic training.

This policy came under scrutiny after South Korea’s football team secured the gold medal at the Asian Games last week. The backlash intensified after team captain Lee Gi-hyuk stated in a post-match interview, “I am not going to the military.” Further fueling public disapproval, a video circulated showing Park Seung-soo, a Newcastle United under-21 player, wearing a military discharge cap askew while smiling and saluting.

Sports Minister Chae Hwi-young acknowledged the growing public dissatisfaction during a parliamentary audit. “I believe there is a broad public consensus that the system should be made fairer and subject to stricter standards,” he said, adding, “We have no choice but to move in the direction of scaling it back.”

The announcement indicates that the government intends to revise the exemption system to address concerns about fairness and the perceived preferential treatment of athletes. Further details on the specific changes or the timeline for implementation have yet to be disclosed.