A scandal of colossal proportions has erupted in South Korea, reaching the highest political levels and leading to an imminent change in legislation. The event took place live on television, in front of an entire country that was watching the celebrations of the national football team after winning the final of the Asian Games against Japan, the host country. It was the fourth consecutive gold medal for the South Korean men's team in this competition, which is the most important multi-sport event on the Asian continent, as well as the second largest multi-sport event in the world after the Summer Olympics. They are held every 4 years and 45 countries participate.
The victory celebration at Nagoya's Toyota Stadium was overshadowed by rash statements made in the heat of the moment by several players, who openly spoke about what had driven them to give their all on the pitch, what extraordinary motivation they had to lift the trophy. Not the thirst for glory for themselves and for the Republic of Korea, but something that had nothing to do with sports: exemption from military service.
How exemption from military service works in South Korea: high sporting merits
Thanks to the Asian Games gold medal, 20 of the team's 23 players automatically benefited from exemption from military service. Only three remain out, for the simple reason that they have already completed their service. In South Korea, all able-bodied men must complete 18 to 21 months of compulsory military service until the age of 28. However, South Korean law provides a special exemption for athletes who win a gold medal at the Asian Games (as in this case) or a medal of any kind at the Olympic Games.
Beneficiaries of the exemption obtained for high sporting merits only have to complete a few weeks of basic military training and a certain number of hours of community service, thus being able to continue their professional careers. It is undoubtedly an advantage of extraordinary value – especially in economic terms – especially for footballers playing in European championships, as happened in 2018 with Son Heung-min, then at Tottenham, who also won the gold medal at the Asian Games with the national football team and in 2020 completed only three weeks of “light” military service.
Çfarë thanë koreano-jugorët pas fitores: askush nuk mendonte për trofeun
Në finalen kundër Japonisë, kapiteni i Koresë së Jugut, Lee Gi-hyuk, 26-vjeçari mbrojtës i Gangwon, ishte një prej lojtarëve më të motivuar. Duke qenë një prej tre lojtarëve mbi moshën e lejuar në skuadër – e cila sipas rregullores së Lojërave Aziatike përbëhet nga futbollistë nën 23 vjeç – ai e kishte tashmë fletëthirrjen: nëse nuk do të fitonin medaljen e artë, i mbeteshin vetëm nëntë ditë deri në mobilizimin. Pas ndeshjes, duke buzëqeshur dhe duke ngritur medaljen drejt kamerave, ai tha: “Nuk do të shkoj të bëj shërbimin ushtarak!”. Ai shtoi se pesha i ishte hequr nga shpatullat dhe se përjashtimi ishte “i dëshpëruar” edhe për shokët e skuadrës.
Couldn’t believe the words coming out of Lee Gi-hyuk’s mouth at the end of the win. Celebrating on the pitch is one thing but post game interview he talks about avoiding the military (he would have had to enter in 9 days if he didn’t win exemption) and how he would joke with his teammates about that, and at the end of the interview, says “I’m not going to the military”🥴 Similar words and actions by Yang Min-hyeok and Park Seung-soo have stirred outrage with some government officials calling for their exemption to be stripped. The players have since apologized. 🙏 Nonetheless, incredibly tone deaf, moronic to rub it in this way. More than these young players, I view this as a massive failure by the @thekfa to not provide media training/education for these young lads. You woulda thought they had. 🤦♂️
— Joel Kim (@KNTFootball) October 4, 2026
Edhe më i drejtpërdrejtë ishte 20-vjeçari Yang Min-hyeok, në pronësi të Tottenham dhe i huazuar te Westerlo. I pyetur se si ndihej pasi kishte marrë medaljen e artë, ai u përgjigj: “Sinqerisht, nuk mendoja se medaljet ishin kaq të rëndësishme. Shpërblimi i vërtetë është përjashtimi nga shërbimi ushtarak, ndaj luajtëm duke pasur vetëm këtë në mendje. Trofetë apo medaljet nuk kishin rëndësi”. Ai e lidhi gjithashtu këtë përfitim me mundësinë për të qëndruar më gjatë jashtë vendit pa pasur nevojë të kthehej për të kryer shërbimin ushtarak.
Nuk foli, por bëri një gjest po aq domethënës për atë që e bënte realisht të lumtur në atë moment, 19-vjeçari Park Seung-soo, mesfushori i Newcastle. Në dhomën e zhveshjes ai postoi një selfie me kapelen që përdoret në përfundim të shërbimit ushtarak dhe u shfaq edhe në një video ku bënte gjestin e përshëndetjes me të njëjtën kapelë. Postimi u fshi më pas dhe lojtari shpjegoi se kapelën ia kishte dhënë një tifoz në fund të ndeshjes dhe se, në euforinë e momentit, nuk e kishte menduar.
🚨 | 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊: “𝐈'𝐌 𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄, 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐌𝐎𝐂𝐊 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐄…” #NUFC's Park Seung-soo has taken heat for an IG story he put up wearing an army hat after winning the gold medal that seemed to mock military service. His full apology on IG after he took down his story: "Hello. I'm Park Seung-soo, a member of South Korea's Asian Games football team. I'd like to apologize to the fans regarding the photo I posted on social media immediately after the final. I'm sincerely sorry to everyone who felt uncomfortable because of my actions. Right after the match, a fan at the stadium gave me a hat, and I put it on. I was overwhelmed with joy and excitement that all the time and effort we had led to a gold medal. I took a photo and posted it on social media. I have never taken lightly the meaning of representing South Korea. I'll work even harder and show a more responsible side to myself repay the support and expectations of the Korean people. Once again, I sincerely apologize to everyone who felt uncomfortable because of my careless actions." 🫡🇰🇷
— Joel Kim (@KNTFootball) October 4, 2026
Footballers' sentiment and government announcement: the exclusion system will be "reduced"
The uproar caused by these behaviors forced all the protagonists to apologize immediately, either at Incheon Airport upon their arrival in their homeland or via social media. In particular, the center of criticism was captain Lee Gi-hyuk, who, due to his role, had to weigh every word even more carefully. He said that he had been carried away by the “happiness, adrenaline and emotions of the moment” and that he was “deeply sorry” to those who are doing their military service and to the fans. “As an adult, I should have thought about it first,” he admitted. He also said – wanting to defend the group – that, since he had spoken first, the other young men had followed him. The other players involved also used the same tone.
Following the controversy, the South Korean government has now announced its intention to review the exemptions from military service granted to athletes. Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young said he would “reconsider” the exemption, calling Lee’s comments “absolutely immature” and saying the system, which has been in place for more than 50 years, “will inevitably have to be scaled back.”
