South Korea captain apologises after military-service remark

South Korea’s Asian Games football captain, Lee Gi-hyuk, has apologised after saying he would not have to perform military service following his team’s gold-medal victory. South Korea defeated hosts Japan 1-0 in Saturday’s men’s final at Toyota Stadium near Nagoya, securing the country’s fourth consecutive Asian Games title. After the match, Gi-hyuk held up his medal and told reporters: “I’m not going to the military.” The 26-year-old defender, who plays in South Korea’s domestic K League, later said on Instagram that he regretted both his remarks and his conduct after the game.

He said he had been caught up in the happiness, adrenaline and excitement of the occasion. “Both as a captain and as a player,” he said, there were things he should not have said or done. He apologised to supporters who are currently completing military duty and to those who had supported the team.

Able-bodied South Korean men are generally required to complete between 18 months and two years of military service before reaching the age of 28. Under the medal policy, Asian Games gold medallists and Olympic medallists of any colour receive an exemption from full service, although they complete several weeks of basic training. The policy is a sensitive issue in South Korea, and athletes generally avoid discussing it openly.

Gi-hyuk said he should have considered his words more carefully and would continue reflecting on his behaviour. Asian Games football is contested by under-23 teams, with three older players permitted in each squad. Gi-hyuk was also part of South Korea’s World Cup campaign in North America, which ended in the group phase.

Golfer Tom Kim also secured a military exemption after winning Asian Games gold on Saturday.