The South Korean government announced plans to review the military service exemptions granted to athletes after a public outcry over footballers' celebrations at the Asian Games.

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi‑young said the exemption system, in place for over five decades, will need to be scaled back, describing recent comments by captain Lee Gi‑hyuk as "utterly immature".

South Korean men must complete 18 to 21 months of active military service before turning 28, but athletes who win Asian Games gold or Olympic medals receive an exemption that reduces basic training to less than a month.

The controversy arose after the football team beat Japan in the final, where three players, including captain Lee Gi‑hyuk, were criticised for celebrating the exemption they secured.

During a National Assembly committee hearing, Minister Choi acknowledged the system's role in supporting elite athletes but noted shifting public perceptions of fairness and the need for a comprehensive review.

Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Kye‑won questioned the minister, saying the incident left young people feeling a serious sense of unfairness and pointing out that 80% of exemption benefits at the Asian Games go to football and baseball players.

Cho also argued that winning a world championship is more demanding than an Asian Games gold, yet world champions in other sports do not receive any service benefit.