TL;DR
- Dopa received temporary military service postponement, not permanent exemption
- South Korean males must complete 20-month service between ages 18-28
- Asian Games gold medalists can earn military service exemptions
- Esports inclusion in 2022 Asian Games creates exemption pathway
- Faker’s participation could extend his professional career significantly
Popular South Korean gaming personality Jeong “Dopa” Sang-gil has officially confirmed the temporary deferral of his compulsory military obligations through a recent YouTube broadcast.
In his video presentation titled “I got military exemption…”, the 27-year-old content creator clarified that while his announcement might suggest complete freedom from service duties, he has actually secured only a short-term delay that permits continued streaming activities.
The distinction between postponement and exemption represents a crucial consideration for Korean esports professionals navigating their career timelines.
Under South Korean national defense regulations, all male citizens aged 18 through 28 must fulfill approximately 20 months of mandatory military duty, creating significant career interruptions for streaming professionals and competitive gamers alike.
Eligible individuals typically need to initiate their service commitment before reaching their 28th birthday. With Dopa approaching this milestone on January 8, supporters anticipated imminent developments regarding his military status resolution.
Even with this temporary deferral arrangement, industry analysts project the delay will likely extend only several months, suggesting his formal enlistment process will commence within the coming year.
This mandatory service period often forces gaming professionals to either suspend their careers temporarily or transition into retirement, representing one of the most challenging career decisions facing Korean esports talent.
During his early professional development phase, Dopa seriously contemplated pursuing a competitive League of Legends career path, but encountered a notorious competitive ban lasting two years accompanied by an extraordinary 1000-year account suspension following elo-boosting violations.
Since that disciplinary action, he has earned widespread recognition as the premier solo queue competitor worldwide, consistently achieving and sustaining elite ranking positions across multiple regional servers.
This unique career trajectory demonstrates how gaming professionals must navigate both competitive challenges and regulatory compliance issues throughout their career development.
Asia Games 2022 to provide Korean military exemption?
Current South Korean legislation grants complete military service exemptions to athletes securing gold medals in either Olympic competitions or Asian Games tournaments, as demonstrated when the entire 2018 Asian Games championship soccer squad received such dispensations to continue their professional development uninterrupted.
Following esports’ inclusion as a demonstration category during the 2018 event, organizers have confirmed its return as an official medal sport in 2022, potentially enabling qualifying South Korean rosters to earn these valuable service exemptions.
The gaming community has already mobilized support campaigns urging legendary mid laner Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok to compete should League of Legends feature in the tournament lineup, offering the three-time world champion contender an opportunity to substantially prolong his competitive career through successful gold medal pursuit with national teammates.
This emerging pathway represents a significant development for esports professionals facing mandatory military service obligations, potentially transforming career planning strategies for top Korean gaming talent.
Action Checklist
- Verify current military service exemption eligibility criteria for esports professionals
- Monitor Asian Games 2022 esports inclusion status and qualification requirements
- Research temporary postponement application procedures and documentation requirements
- Develop career contingency plans accounting for potential service interruptions
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Popular soloqueue streamer Dopa postpones Korean military service Understanding Dopa's military service postponement and how esports could provide Korean athletes exemptions