The nation’s top sports body on Tuesday voiced its displeasure over the government’s plan to tighten rules on exempting athletes from mandatory military service, saying the move would have an adverse effect on athletes’ morale and motivation.

Currently, male athletes who win a gold medal at the Asian Games or who win a medal of any color at the Summer and Winter Olympics earn exemption from the service.

Such athletes only have to complete four weeks of basic training, whereas other healthy South Korean men between the ages of 18 and 35 must spend about two years in the armed forces.

The Military Manpower Administration, however, told the National Assembly on Monday that granting athletes exemptions for winning a medal once is “irrational.”

The MMA, which handles affairs related to conscription, presented at the parliament its plan to adopt a new points scale.

Athletes would have to earn a certain number of points, based on their performances at different competitions, to be exempt from the military service. 

Once granted the privilege, such athletes would have to put in a designated number of community service hours.

In a statement, the Korean Olympic Committee said only a select few athletes ever earn their military exemption, despite many years of hard training.

“To rank high at the Olympics and Asian Games, many athletes put in long hours for at least 10 years, but very few end up winning medals,” the KOC said, adding that from 2003 to 2012, 186 athletes, or an annual average of 18.6 athletes, received military exemptions.

The KOC also urged the government to consider the positive impact athletes have had on South Korea and its people.

“For many years, our athletes have performed well in international competitions to raise our national profile and help bring people together,” the KOC said.

“The MMA and the defense ministry must take into account national athletes’ hard work and dedication to do the country proud, and reconsider their plan to change the exemption rule.” (Yonhap News)