All three players have subsequently apologised amid public criticism.
Under South Korea’s conscription system, able-bodied men are generally required to serve between 18 and 21 months in the military.
But the law allows Olympic medallists and Asiad gold medallists, as well as certain award-winning artists, to avoid conventional service.
Those who qualify must still undergo three weeks of basic training and complete 544 hours of community service over 34 months.
The South Korean defence ministry said on Tuesday that it was reviewing the future of such arrangements.
„Ultimately, we have plans to cut back or scrap the supplementary service, including one designed for artists and athletes, and reflect it in the basic outline for defence reforms,“ defence ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said during a regular press briefing, as reported by Yonhap.
The ministry said the review would take into account factors including public opinion, fairness and the country’s shrinking pool of military-age men. It did not specify a timeline.
