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Fri, January 22, 2021 | 00:09
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Are privileges for elite athletes necessary evil?
운동 선수 특혜 존속, 논란
Posted : 2012-06-03 19:14
Updated : 2012-06-03 19:14
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This is the first in a series of articles aimed at helping determine whether the current system of rewarding outstanding athletes with privileges is still relevant or needs changing. — ED.


By Kang Seung-woo

Does Korea need to keep the current “old” system of awarding outstanding athletes with exemptions from mandatory military services and “unearned” diplomas from universities and colleges they gain free admission into? Some say that it is an unfair system the country used to groom elite athletes to raise national prestige, while others claim that once the privileges are taken away, it signifies the death of Korea’s national sports machine.

Recently, a professor talked indirectly about the privileges for athletes when he raised an issue over figure skater Kim Yuna’s teaching practice, arguing that as a senior at Korea University’s physical education department she lacked the qualifications to participate in teaching practice. The professor was threatened with a lawsuit by Kim’s agency and was overwhelmed by a Yu-na-supporting Internet mob.

Although the privileges for medaled athletes have existed for nearly 40 years, doubts about their wisdom first seriously came to light in 1998.

Park Chan-ho, the nation’s first export to Major League Baseball (MLB), won a gold medal at the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998 and was exempted from military service.

In addition, the members of the 2002 World Cup squad including Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung, and Korean baseball players participating in the improvised World Baseball Classic (WBC) in 2006, had their military service waived after each side got out of the group stage for the first time in history and reached the semifinals. Both exemptions were hurriedly established exemptions, which raised voices against the extreme favor.

In Korea, all able-bodied men over 20 are required to serve in the military for about two years under the country’s mandatory conscription system.

But in 1973 the military regime came up with a law that allows a male athlete who finishes first at the Asian Games or wins a medal in the Summer or Winter Olympics to skip military service after just doing four weeks of basic military training at boot camp, as part of boosting their pride as well as rewarding them for heightening national prestige.

Despite the growing complaints over the system, some say that it is still necessary for athletes.

“Athletes’ peculiar circumstances need to be considered,” said a former basketball player, who was identified by his surname Jin and put in his time with armed forces between 2001 and 2003.

“Given that athletes have to quit their jobs at an earlier age than others, the period of military service in the heyday of their youth can do much damage to their career.” He also said: “The exemption is the product of their hard work. Everybody cannot benefit from the system, as winning gold at the Asian Games or a medal at the Olympics is really backbreaking.” But those who are against it claim more than anything else that they became athletes by personal choice.

“Each athlete should consider the different conditions on his own, but why does the nation step up efforts to give advantages to them?” said Park Hyun-wook, a former military officer.

Whenever athletes bring home medals from the Olympics or Asian Games, they are labeled as national heroes who have promoted the nation’s position in the world.

But Park said there is no leg evidence that medalists improve the national brand or glory by winning medals at international competitions.

“Who remembers where the gold medalist in canoeing at the Beijing Olympics came from?” he asked.

Critics also point out that although they represent Korea, athletes mainly try to win a medal for their own personal gain and honor, and boosting the national reputation is a collateral benefit.

Another problem is that medalists from the Olympics or Asian Games are awarded monthly pension money after they reach 60. Amid escalating negative comments on the system, the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) is set to take an action to revise the current law.

Actually, the government abolished in 2007 the exemption awarded to those who reach the knockout stage of the World Cup or the penultimate round at the WBC.

“In the second half of this year, we will seek ways to fix the law through holding public hearings,” an official of the MMA said on condition of anonymity.

He added that a points system accumulating points based on athletes’ performances at international competitions or alternative service including work in the community can be options.

When Cleveland Indians outfielder Choo Shin-soo helped the Korean team win a gold medal at the Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010 and avoided the military draft, the New Jersey- based Home News Tribune, criticized his exemption, saying it was ironic that he could continue his Major League career, while U.S. forces staying in Korea are exposed to North Korea in defense of the South, which was seeing growing tension due to the North’s shelling of Yeonpyeong Island.

Although it is understandable that Choo was sold on getting military exemption because it would be tough to abandon baseball for nearly two years while in the prime of his career.

Looking back in history, there were some renowned sportsmen who joined the military, fought in wars and even lost their lives during their heydays. Boston Red Sox great Ted Williams, the last player in MLB to bat over .400 in a single season, was called up to serve in World War II and Korean War, while Pat Tillman, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals in the National Football League (NFL), enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2002 after turning down a contract offer of $3.6 million (4.25 billion won), only to be killed by friendly fire during his service in Afghanistan in 2004.

운동 선수 특혜 존속, 논란
뛰어난 능력과 성과로 올림픽과 같은 큰 대회에서, 국위선양을 하고 돌아온 많은 운동 선수들에 대해 주어지는 병역을 비롯한 각종 특혜는 수년 전부터 줄 곧 논란이 되어왔다. 몇몇 사람들은 운동 선수들에게 주어지는 특혜는 사회 공정성을 해치는 일이라 주장하는 반면, 어떤 사람들은 국가의 위상을 드높인 운동 선수들에게 주어지는 특혜는 정당하다고 주장하기도 한다. 큰 국제 대회에서 메달을 딴 운동 선수들에게 주어지는 특혜는 지난 1973년 군사 정권으로부터 거의 지난 40년간 존재해 왔지만, 문제가 사회 형평성에 대한 진지한 질문으로서 받아들여지기 시작한 것은 사실 1998년이 처음이다. 한 전직 농구선수는 “모든 운동선수가 병역 특혜의 대상이 되는 것은 아니며, 짧은 전성기 동안에 재정적으로나 커리어 적으로 많은 것을 잃을 수 있는 직업상의 특이성을 고려해야” 한다는 주장으로 병역 특혜의 정당성을 설파 하였다. 하지만 한편에서는, 올림픽과 같은 큰 대회에서의 성과는 지극히 개인적인 선택이며 또 국가적 위상에 얼마나 기여했는지를 구체적으로 수치화 하기는 어렵다면서 특혜의 불공정성을 지적했다. 늘어가는 부정적 견해를 반영해, 병무청에서는 “국민의 의견을 수렴해 올해 안으로 현행법 개정”을 위한 준비하고 있다고 밝혔다. 광쩌우 아시안 게임에서, 클리브랜드의 타자 추신수가 한국팀의 우승에 기여하여 병역혜택을 받았을 때, 뉴저지에 홈 뉴스 트리뷴은 미군들이 북한의 위협에 남한을 지키고 있는 동안에, 추신수는 계속 메이저 리그에서 활동할 수 있게 되었다며 그의 병역 특혜를 비판했다. 추신수가 자신의 야구 커리어의 절정에서 군대를 가야 하는 상황의 불합리함은 분명 존재하지만, 역사를 돌아 보면, 마지막 시즌 4할의 타율을 기록하며 자신의 전성기를 보내고 있었던 보스턴 레드삭스의 테드 윌리암스는 세계 2차 대전에 징병되었으며, 전 미식축구 팀 아리조나 카디날스의 팻 틸먼은 2002년, 40억 원이 넘는 계약을 거절하고 아프카니스탄과 전쟁 중인 군에 입대하여 2004년에 숨을 거두었다.
Emailksw@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter









 
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