[2025 Audit] Minister Choi Hwiyoung: "Comprehensive Investigation into International Competitions Granting Military Service Benefits"

On October 14, Choi Hwiyoung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, announced during the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit that a comprehensive investigation would be conducted into domestic competitions that offer benefits under the Art and Sports Personnel system.

Choi made this commitment in response to Assemblywoman Cho Eunhee of the People Power Party, who pointed out that many so-called international competitions that grant Art and Sports Personnel benefits are, in reality, domestic events with mostly Korean participants. She noted that there are numerous cases where individuals receive military service exemptions through these competitions.

Assemblywoman Cho explained that over the past five years, a total of 86 art personnel obtained alternative service qualifications by winning first or second place in art-related competitions certified by the Military Manpower Administration and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. She further noted that 78 of these individuals received military service benefits through competitions held in Korea. In particular, she highlighted that 28 of them received Art and Sports Personnel benefits for winning prizes in competitions labeled as international but effectively domestic in nature.

Choi Hwiyoung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is speaking at the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee's audit held on the 14th in Yeouido, Seoul.
Photo by Yonhap News

As a representative example, Assemblywoman Cho cited the Korea International Contemporary Dance Competition organized by the Korea Dance Association. She pointed out, "Over the past five years, Koreans accounted for an average of 84% of participants in the International Contemporary Dance Competition, and more than 70% of finalists and prize winners were also Korean. Through this competition, five individuals have qualified for Art and Sports Personnel service in the past five years."

She continued, "In the Korea International Ballet Competition organized by the Korea Ballet Foundation, Koreans made up 63% of participants, and four individuals were selected as Art and Sports Personnel over the past five years. In the Seoul International Dance Competition organized by the Seoul International Cultural Exchange Association, Koreans accounted for 62% of participants, and a total of 13 people obtained alternative service qualifications over five years."

Assemblywoman Cho criticized the use of these so-called international competitions, which are essentially domestic events, as a conduit for corruption in the Art and Sports Personnel system, allowing for military service exemptions. She also pointed out that the tragic incident involving three Korean dance majors from Busan Peniel Arts High School in June was not unrelated to this issue. She added, "Art and Sports Personnel only need to complete three months of basic military training and 544 hours of volunteer work to finish their service, but there are many cases where even this volunteer work is faked."

In response, Minister Choi Hwiyoung stated, "If what you have said is true, it is a very serious situation," and promised, "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will conduct a thorough investigation to understand the situation." He added, "Military service benefits should only be granted to those who win in competitions that are fair and recognized by everyone. Granting such benefits in other situations is a significant problem. We will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the competitions that qualify for the Art and Sports Personnel system and thoroughly examine the situation."