South Korea captain says sorry for military boast after Asian Games gold
South Korea's Asian Games captain has apologised for gloating about avoiding military service after winning gold.
Lee Gi-hyuk, 26, held up his medal after the 1-0 win over hosts Japan in the final and said he was "not going to the military", according to the BBC. He made the remark at the post-match news conference, Yonhap reported. He has now called those words thoughtless and said sorry.
The apology came on Sunday, after clips of the celebration spread widely. Lee is one of the overage players in South Korea's squad — the tournament is largely for under-23s, but teams can pick a few older players. He plays his club football for Gangwon FC in the K League, South Korea's top division.
To understand the fuss, you need the rules off the pitch. Most South Korean men must complete 18 to 21 months of active military service before the age of 28. Winners of Asian Games gold and Olympic medallists can skip that full service. They still do basic training, which lasts less than a month.
Lee's gold changed everything for him. At 26, he was running out of time. The win means he will not face the long spell away from football that most young South Korean players fear.
He was not the only player to say sorry. Park Seung-su also apologised over military service remarks, while Tottenham winger Yang Min-hyeok apologised after appearing to celebrate earning exemption. Yang said he was sincerely sorry for causing disappointment and discomfort to so many people, according to Yahoo Sport.
There is history here. Son Heung-min served only three weeks in 2020 after winning the Asian Games with South Korea two years earlier. Golfer Tom Kim also secured his sporting future with gold at the Asian Games.
What makes this stand out is the tone, not the rule. Exemption is a huge prize for athletes. Talking about it like a punchline landed badly. For fans, this was a golden night that deserved a different memory.
