New conscripts attend a basic military training graduation ceremony held at the Korea Army Training Center in Nonsan, 152 kilometers south of Seoul, in this file photo taken June 29, 2022. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 13 (Korea Bizwire) – The new chief of the military recruitment agency pledged Monday to push for changes in the country’s supplementary military system as questions arose over its fairness with an exemption of top athletes and musicians from conscription.
Kim Jong-cheol, the new commissioner of the Military Manpower Administration, made the remark as he took office at the government complex in Daejeon, 139 kilometers south of Seoul, after President Yoon Suk Yeol nominated him for the role on Sunday.
“There are tasks piled up that need to be resolved through new solutions, such as pushing for improvements to the supplementary military system, including arts and sports personnel, and problems in securing military personnel due to the demographic cliff,” he said.
While South Korea currently requires all able-bodied men to serve at least 18 months in the military, the supplementary system allows elite athletes and musicians to undergo a three-week training program if they win Olympic medals, the gold at the Asian Games or win top prizes at prestigious classical music competitions.
The government plans to review the system in its entirety, which also includes alternative services for doctors and other technical experts, and come up with improvement measures by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, Kim, the former vice chief of the Presidential Security Service, explained his position about criticism over his former office’s handling of hecklers at multiple events attended by Yoon.
In February, presidential security agents covered the mouth of a graduate of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and carried him by his limbs out of a graduation ceremony for shouting at Yoon during his congratulatory speech.
The graduate, also a member of the then Green Justice Party, later filed a constitutional petition, claiming presidential bodyguards violated his basic rights.
“I understand (the measures) were taken in accordance with security protocol and principles,” he told reporters before his inauguration ceremony.
The main opposition Democratic Party has criticized Kim’s appointment, citing the controversy.
(Yonhap)
