South Korea captain apologises for gloating over military service exemption

South Korean footballer Lee Gi-hyuk has moved to calm the storm caused by his reaction after captaining his country to Asian Games gold. Following the 1-0 win over Japan, the Gangwon FC player lifted his medal and triumphantly announced that he would avoid the army. The comments did not sit well with those who serve in the military, and the player has since backtracked on social media.

• Lee Gi-hyuk captained South Korea to Asian Games gold after a 1-0 victory over Japan.
• He celebrated on camera that the win meant he would not have to do mandatory military service.
• South Korea grants exemption to Asian Games champions and Olympic medallists.
• The player apologised to fans who are carrying out their military duty.
• Son Heung-min and golfer Tom Kim have also earned the exemption through sporting success.

What the South Korea captain actually said after winning gold

The moment came straight after the final whistle against Japan. Lee Gi-hyuk, gold medal around his neck, turned to the cameras and let slip a phrase that quickly travelled across the country: he announced he was not going to the military. The triumphant tone upset part of the fanbase, particularly among those who are enlisted or have already served, in a country where the draft shapes the lives of most men.

In his later apology, shared on social media and picked up by local media, Lee said he was deeply sorry to the supporters who are fulfilling their military service and to everyone who backed the national team wholeheartedly. He admitted that, as an adult, he should have thought more carefully before speaking, and apologised for having been so careless with his words.

How the military exemption works for South Korean athletes

In South Korea, men are generally required to serve between 18 and 21 months of active military duty before turning 28. But specific rewards exist for athletes who deliver elite sporting success: Asian Games champions and Olympic medallists of any colour are exempted from full service. They still have to complete a basic training period of less than a month.

That route has benefited some of the country's best-known sports figures. Son Heung-min, who spent years at Tottenham, earned the exemption after winning Asian Games gold in 2018 and served only three weeks in 2020. Golfer Tom Kim secured the same status by winning gold at this edition of the Asian Games as well.

The player's apology and his club role

Lee Gi-hyuk plays for Gangwon FC in the K League, South Korea's first division, and was one of the overage players allowed in the country's Under-23 squad at the tournament. In his apology he said he would keep reflecting on his actions and stressed how much he regretted the careless way he celebrated the win.

I sincerely apologise to all the fans who have supported us wholeheartedly and who are doing their utmost to fulfil their military duty.

Why military service matters so much in South Korean football

The draft shapes the career of many South Korean footballers, who face an interruption of more than a year and a half if they fail to secure a sporting exemption. That is why the Asian Games and the Olympics carry extra weight in South Korea: what is at stake is not just a medal, but the chance to keep a professional career going without the break imposed by military duty.

In that context, Lee Gi-hyuk's euphoria is understandable, even if the way he expressed it cost him a public apology. The episode shows how sensitive the issue remains in South Korean society: what for an athlete is professional relief is for millions of citizens an unavoidable obligation.