Captain apologises for gloating over military service exemption
Summary
South Korean football captain Lee Gi-hyuk apologized for boasting about avoiding mandatory military service after winning gold at the Asian Games. South Korea grants military service exemptions to athletes who win gold in major competitions, but Lee admitted his celebration was careless and expressed regret.Key Facts
- Lee Gi-hyuk, captain of South Korea’s football team, won gold at the Asian Games by beating Japan 1-0.
- After the win, he publicly celebrated avoiding the usual military service.
- South Korean men typically must serve 18 to 21 months in the military before age 28.
- Winning gold at the Asian Games or any Olympic medal earns exemption from most military service, except for a short basic training period.
- Lee later apologized on social media, expressing regret for his words and respect for those serving in the military.
- Other athletes like golfer Tom Kim and footballer Son Heung-min have also received military exemptions this way.
- Lee plays for Gangwon FC and was one of the older players allowed on the Under-23 national team.
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