[2020 National Audit] "45% of Athletes Are Exempt from Military Service... Military Service Law Should Be Improved to Stop Feeding Only Cyber Universities"

Source: Office of Assemblywoman Kim Ye-ji

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] It has been identified that among professional athletes who have not yet fulfilled their military service obligations and are currently enrolled in universities or graduate schools, one out of two attend cyber universities. It has been pointed out that these athletes register at cyber universities primarily to defer their military service rather than for academic purposes, and that schools are profiting from this, highlighting the urgent need for countermeasures.

According to data titled "Status of Professional Athletes Who Have Not Completed Military Service and Are Enrolled in Universities or Graduate Schools," disclosed by Kim Ye-ji, a member of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from the People Power Party, and obtained from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the 21st, among 370 athletes who have not completed military service in four professional sports categories?professional soccer, professional baseball, professional volleyball, and professional basketball?165 athletes (44.6%) were confirmed to be enrolled in cyber universities or graduate schools. The remaining 205 athletes (55.4%) are enrolled in general universities or junior colleges.

Rep. Kim stated, "There is an issue as athletes are using university or graduate school enrollment not for genuine academic advancement but to defer military service obligations." A source working in the professional sports field told Rep. Kim’s office, "Many athletes actually register at universities (or graduate schools) for the purpose of military service deferment," adding, "They tend to enroll more in cyber universities because admission and academic management are relatively easier."

The average entrance fee for five cyber universities where multiple professional athletes are enrolled is 262,280 KRW, with an entrance examination fee of 20,000 KRW and a tuition fee of 71,600 KRW per credit. Based on a sports-related department requiring 140 credits for graduation, Rep. Kim’s office calculated that the revenue generated from professional athletes could amount to approximately 10.31 million KRW per person.

According to the current Military Service Act, students attending schools above the high school level or those undergoing courses designated by training institutions, as well as outstanding athletes in the field of sports who bring honor to the nation, may defer conscription or military call-up.

Rep. Kim pointed out, "The university or graduate school enrollment chosen by professional athletes to defer military service starts from deferment criteria that do not reflect the occupational characteristics of athletes," adding, "Although there are differences between sports, the career span of professional athletes is not very long, and it is worth reconsidering the fact that these characteristics are not taken into account and the same standards as the general public are applied."

She further stated, "As long as the current standards persist, unnecessary university or graduate school enrollment and unnecessary tuition expenses by athletes will continue, benefiting only the cyber universities that have proliferated rapidly since the early 2000s internet boom," adding, "Considering the current situation where recreational sports are spreading and there is a shortage of quality instructors, it is necessary to discuss ways to allow military service deferment until retirement, reflecting the short career span of athletes, and to enable them to fulfill their military obligations as recreational sports instructors after retirement."