The special military service system triggered by Asian Game is expected to be abolished in the end.
Jakarta 2018 - More than 40 people have received military service specials at the Palembang Asian Game. In particular, the soccer and baseball teams won gold medals side by side, and 20 and 9 people received military service benefits respectively.
However, some of the baseball players, including Oh Ji-hwan (28, LG Twins), were controversial as they were embroiled in controversy over qualification. He was selected after postponing military service for Asian Game.
As the representative of K-pop, BTS (BTS), ranked first on the Billboard 200 on the 3rd, the controversy over equity became even hotter. It is unfair that the special military service system, which is only benefited by art and sportsmen, is unfair.
It was convincing that BTS's national status, Shenyang, who was once again the first Korean singer to be on the Billboard, was as good as a gold medal in international sports.
Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the National Assembly's Korea Military Committee, also pointed out the issue of "Military service instruction is not given if you are first in classical music competitions such as violin and piano,
"I'm thinking about giving points to each big tournament, such as the World Championships, Asian Game, and the Olympics, rather than being an unconditional benefit (at certain competitions), so I'm going to be able to score them in full," he explained.
However, the controversy has become virtually meaningless as the Korean Military Department is considering a plan to phase out the alternative service system, including the special military service in the arts and physical education, within four years until 2022.
The Korea Military Department believes that it is necessary to gradually reduce and abolish alternative services in order to maintain the military force in order to prepare for the population decline that has been in full swing since the birth of 2002.
The Korea Military Department has decided to reduce the number of standing troops from 618,000 to 500,000 by 2022 in accordance with the Korea Military Reform 2.0. However, considering the current fertility rate, it is unclear whether it will be able to maintain 500,000.
According to the National Statistical Office, the number of births plummeted from 559,934 in 2001 to 496,911 in 2002. The Korea Military Department believes that it will be a problem to maintain military service from 2022 when a man born in 2002, who is currently a first year high school student, joins the military.
Earlier, the Military Manpower Administration reportedly decided in July to review the military service exemption by organizing a task force or giving out services. However, as the Korea Military Department is actually pushing for the abolition of the military service exemption system within four years, the controversy over military service benefits is expected to be blocked.
Oh Ji-hwan (left) and Son Heung-min above, and BTS/DB below.