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South Korean footballer Son Heung-min celebrates his team's gold at the Asian Games on September 1, 2018 in Bogor, Indonesia. REUTERS / Athit Perawongmetha

At the Asian Games in Jakarta, several South Korean athletes won medals, including gold in football, and were able to escape long compulsory military service. Seoul grants an exemption to any athlete who has won a medal at the Olympics, a rule that is causing much controversy in South Korea. Calls to reform the conscription system are multiplying.

From our correspondent in Seoul,

Last weekend, star striker Tottenham's English team, South Korean footballer Son Heung-min, won gold with his team at the Asian Games in Indonesia ; this victory will allow him to avoid the 21 months of compulsory military service and he will be able to continue his international career.

In the Korean and international press, this issue has completely overshadowed the sporting stakes and many have criticized this exemption. According to South Korean law, all men between the ages of 18 and 28 are called to serve for 21 months - a long service justified by the threat of North Korea's neighbor .

The privilege to " deserving athletes " is no longer unanimous

But exemptions have been provided since 1973, when President and General Park Chung-hee decreed that Koreans who contribute to improving the image and prestige of their country abroad would be exempted from service. An Olympic medal or gold at the Asian Games thus avoids the army.

This privilege is no longer unanimous. Some call for an abolition of this system, perceived as unfair to other equally talented people. Other critics also point out that athletes are not the only ones to shine their country on the international scene.

A service often synonymous with end of career

K-pop stars are an example, with Korean pop music becoming more popular overseas . The BTS group has just won the first place in the US Billboard and its countless fans have launched petitions for its young singers are also exempt from service.

A conservative MP, Ha Tae-kyung, wants to offer exemptions to artists, spearheads of " soft power " South Korea. But this may open a Pandora's box: what criteria to adopt? Should we also include creators such as Youtubers? The debate is just beginning.

South Korean army faces a headcount deficit

The issue is delicate for the South Korean army, which is already facing a growing deficit of conscripts due to a birth rate at half mast. On Monday, September 3, one of its representatives said it was time to " revise " this exemption system and make the criteria " more rigorous ".

The next day, it was Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon's turn to intervene in the debate, asking his government to take steps to improve the system and respond to recent criticism.

In addition, the controversy - already old - about conscientious objectors who refuse service by personal conviction: these are not recognized in South Korea. In June, however, the Constitutional Court called on the state to revise the law and create a civil service for them. But for the moment, Seoul has not done anything yet.