Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps

Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps (Korean: 국군체육부대), commonly known as the Sangmu (상무), is the sports division of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. Its headquarters are located in Mungyeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. It was founded in 1984 by the integration of the athletic teams of ROK Army, ROK Navy and ROK Air Force.

KAFAC's emblem
Korea Armed Forces
Athletic Corps
  • Second Athletics Unit
  • Third Athletics Unit
    • Aquatics
    • Archery
    • Athletics
    • Biathlon
    • Cycling
    • Fencing
    • Modern pentathlon
    • Shooting
    • Taekwondo
    • Women's football

Composition

First Athletic Unit

Second Athletic Unit

Third Athletic Unit

Achievements
Military World Games
Venue Gold Silver Bronze Total
1995 Rome 15410
1999 Zagreb 104418
2003 Catania 54514
2007 Hyderabad 24713
2011 Rio de Janeiro 86822
2015 Mungyeong 19152559

Role in professional sports

Besides providing athletic training and facilities to serving active-duty military personnel, Sangmu also accepts qualified male professional athletes serving their mandatory military service.[1] Athletes from team sports play for the Sangmu teams on loan from their parent club and return to their respective clubs at the end of their service.[2] Serving Sangmu athletes may be temporarily released to participate in international competitions if called up by their respective sporting associations.[3][4][5]

Applicants submit the appropriate documents towards the end of their playing season, which differs depending on the sport, and accepted applicants are further screened through a series of physical fitness tests and a written test.[6][7] Athletes from team sports are also chosen based on availability of places in the team for the upcoming season and their past records. Those rejected may either re-apply (if not of maximum age yet) or serve as a regular soldier. Qualified applicants undergo five weeks of basic military training like all other recruits before being assigned to their respective athletic units. Due to their military status, Sangmu athletes are required to salute when the national anthem is played and are addressed by their rank instead of the honorific for athletes (seonsu, 선수) even at international competitions and tournaments.[8][5]

The existing policy dictates that athletes who have not completed their service and win a gold medal at the Asian Games or at least a bronze medal at the Olympics may be exempted, although they still have to undergo basic training. If the athlete is already serving, he may be granted an early discharge, as in the case of basketball player Oh Se-keun[4] and fencer Kim Jun-ho, both of whom were discharged weeks after winning their respective medals.[9] Due to this policy, the topic of mandatory military service and exemptions garners increased public interest during the Olympics and Asian Games.[9]

References
  1. ""메달 딴 자랑스런 예비역 병장"" (in Korean). Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. August 9, 2012.
  2. "K리그 가장 비싼 팀은 군인팀 '상무', 그 이유를 아십니까". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). May 8, 2021.
  3. "국방부 스토리채널 - [M프렌즈] 올림픽에서 활약! 국군체육부대!" (in Korean). Ministry of National Defense Official Kakao blog. September 1, 2021.
  4. "<아시안게임> 금메달 오세근 전역…프로리그 판도에 변수". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). October 3, 2014.
  5. "'군인 정신' 홍철·김민우…"16강 디딤돌 놓겠다"" (in Korean). KBS. May 26, 2018.
  6. "상무농구단, 25일까지 지원자 모집". Jumpball (in Korean). February 8, 2022.
  7. "상무, 3월 병력 모집이 올해 마지막?…K리그, 추가모집에 촉각". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). March 25, 2021.
  8. "세리머니로 거수경례? 상무골프단 눈길". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). April 23, 2015.
  9. "용선 '빌린 배' 레이스… 단일팀, 단결력도 금메달". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). September 4, 2018.
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