South Korea’s Asian Games-winning football team has become the centre of a national argument over military service after captain Lee Gi-hyuk and two of his teammates publicly celebrated the conscription exemption their gold medal secured. Lee made the remarks within seconds of captaining his country to victory in the final, and the reaction at home was immediate and hostile.
The exemption itself is long established. Under a government promise, South Korean athletes who reach the podium at the Asian Games are granted a free pass from the 18 to 21 months of obligatory military service that able-bodied men are otherwise required to complete before they turn 35. The provision has been in place for more than 50 years. Lee was joined in his post-match celebrations by Yang Min-hyuk, who plays for Tottenham, and Park Seung-soo, of Newcastle.
The backlash was intense, driven both by the vast majority of able-bodied South Koreans who receive no such reprieve and by those who regard conscription as a duty to be honoured rather than a hardship to be avoided at any cost. Lee subsequently issued an apology, saying: “I got caught up in the happiness, adrenaline and excitement of the moment. I am deeply sorry to the fans who are currently fulfilling their military duty, as well as to all those who sincerely supported us.” He promised to reflect on his behaviour.
Beyond the personal apology, the episode may carry consequences for other South Korean athletes. South Korea’s Ministry of National Defence was already reviewing plans to abolish special exemptions for sport, and Lee’s comments are likely to accelerate that process. “Ultimately, we have plans to cut back or scrap the supplementary service, including one designed for artists and athletes, and reflect it in the basic outline for defence reforms,” a ministry representative said. “From the perspective of the defence ministry, we are deeply sorry for the remarks made by some people in the sports industry.”
Even with the exemption, South Korea’s gold medallists are not exempt from all obligations. They will still be required to complete three weeks of basic training and 544 hours of community service for their country.