KAFAC's emblem

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.

Composition

First Athletic Unit

Second Athletic Unit

Third Athletic Unit

Achievements

Military World Games
Venue Gold Silver Bronze Total
Italy 1995 Rome 15410
Croatia 1999 Zagreb 104418
Italy 2003 Catania 54514
India 2007 Hyderabad 24713
Brazil 2011 Rio de Janeiro 86822
South Korea 2015 Mungyeong 19152559
China 2019 Wuhan 3101124

Korea Rugby League

2005, 2007 Champions

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 referred to as 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]

Rugby Union team

Founded in 1984 the KAFAC rugby union team plays in the Korea Super Rugby League, having won the tournament twice in 2005 and 2007. They are coached by Seo Cheon Oh and are based in Mungyeong.

The current squad is,[10] (Players in bold have played internationally)

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Park Tae Ho Hooker South Korea Korea
Park Geon Woo Hooker South Korea Korea
Park Jae Min Hooker South Korea Korea
Shin Dong Rip Hooker South Korea Korea
Hwang In Beom Hooker South Korea Korea
Kim Jeong Hwan Prop South Korea Korea
Kwak Seong Jun Prop South Korea Korea
Lee Jae Hwan Prop South Korea Korea
Lee Jun Woo Prop South Korea Korea
Lee Kwan Woo Prop South Korea Korea
Woo Il Kwon Prop South Korea Korea
Kim Min Seok Prop South Korea Korea
Shin Gi Soo Prop South Korea Korea
Kim Jin Hwan Lock South Korea Korea
Yu Gi Han Lock South Korea Korea
Lee Hyun Jun Lock South Korea Korea
Kang Ho Bin Back row South Korea Korea
Park Joon Young Back row South Korea Korea
Kim Hae Yong Back row South Korea Korea
Yu Gi Jung Back row South Korea Korea
Yoon Jong Ok Back row South Korea Korea
Jeong Jong Taek Back row South Korea Korea
Yoon Young Hoon Back row South Korea Korea
Lee Seung Hwan Back row South Korea Korea
Choi Seong Deok Back row South Korea Korea
Player Position Union
Moon Tae Hoon Scrum-half South Korea Korea
Kim Seong Hyeon Scrum-half South Korea Korea
Ahn Sang Hyun Scrum-half South Korea Korea
Kim Chan Seop Fly-half South Korea Korea
Kim Chan Deul Fly-half South Korea Korea
Shin Hyun Min Centre South Korea Korea
Bang Joon Young Centre South Korea Korea
Son Min Gi Centre South Korea Korea
Kim Min Wook Centre South Korea Korea
Park Geun Yu Centre South Korea Korea
Yoon Young Chun Centre South Korea Korea
Oh Moon Seong Centre South Korea Korea
Park Woo Bin Centre South Korea Korea
Choi Dong Wan Wing South Korea Korea
Kim Tae Hyung Wing South Korea Korea
Lee Kyung Hwan Wing South Korea Korea
Kim Seong Ho Wing South Korea Korea
Kim Hyun Young Wing South Korea Korea
Kim Myeong Su Wing South Korea Korea
Hong Sung Jong Wing South Korea Korea
Jeong Ho Chang Fullback South Korea Korea

References

  1. ↑ ""메달 딴 자랑스런 예비역 병장"" (in Korean). Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. August 9, 2012. Archived from the original on 2021-12-18. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  2. ↑ "K리그 가장 비싼 팀은 군인팀 '상무', 그 이유를 아십니까". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). May 8, 2021. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  3. ↑ "국방부 스토리채널 - [M프렌즈] 올림픽에서 활약! 국군체육부대!" (in Korean). Ministry of National Defense Official Kakao blog. September 1, 2021. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "<아시안게임> 금메달 오세근 전역…프로리그 판도에 변수". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). October 3, 2014. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "'군인 정신' 홍철·김민우…"16강 디딤돌 놓겠다"" (in Korean). KBS. May 26, 2018. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  6. ↑ "상무농구단, 25일까지 지원자 모집". Jumpball (in Korean). February 8, 2022. Archived from the original on February 27, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  7. ↑ "상무, 3월 병력 모집이 올해 마지막?…K리그, 추가모집에 촉각". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). March 25, 2021. Archived from the original on February 27, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  8. ↑ "세리머니로 거수경례? 상무골프단 눈길". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). April 23, 2015. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  9. 1 2 "용선 '빌린 배' 레이스… 단일팀, 단결력도 금메달". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). September 4, 2018. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  10. ↑ "KAFAC". Archived from the original on 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
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