South Korea captain Lee Gi-hyuk apologises for military exemption celebration

South Korea football captain Lee Gi-hyuk has apologised after celebrating his exemption from mandatory military service following his team's Asian Games gold medal. According to BBC Sport, Lee raised his medal after South Korea defeated hosts Japan 1-0 in the final and announced that he would not be entering the military.

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The 26-year-old subsequently issued an apology on social media, in a post carried by local media and reported by the BBC. He expressed regret to supporters currently serving and to those who had backed the team, acknowledging that he should have considered his words more carefully before speaking.

Lee plays for Gangwon FC in South Korea's K League and was included as one of the overage players in the country's under-23 squad. His apology addressed his conduct during the celebrations, with the captain saying he regretted speaking carelessly and would continue reflecting on what he had said.

The sporting exemption has also been a significant feature of the Games' golf competition. BBC Sport's separate report on Tom Kim's victory explained that South Korean men generally face 18 to 21 months of service before turning 28. Asian Games champions and Olympic medallists can receive exemptions from that service, although basic military training remains required.

The exemption therefore does not remove every military obligation. The BBC reported that basic training lasts less than a month, citing Son Heung-min as a previous beneficiary: the footballer completed three weeks in 2020 after helping South Korea win Asian Games gold in 2018.

In golf, Tom Kim secured the exemption by winning individual gold. The 24-year-old closed with a six-under-par 64 to finish 18 under, three strokes clear of his nearest challengers. He had travelled from the Presidents Cup in the United States to compete at Kasugai Country Club in Japan.

The outcome differed for his compatriot SH Kim. South Korea finished with silver in the golf team event, which did not earn the 28-year-old an exemption. Their team also included Mun Do-yeob, who had already completed his military service, the BBC reported.