South Korea football captain says sorry for military comment

South Korea’s Asian Games football captain Lee Gi-hyuk said sorry on Sunday. He apologized for saying that winning a gold medal meant he would not do military service.

South Korea won against Japan 1-0 on Saturday in the men’s final held in Toyota, near Nagoya. This win marks their fourth title in a row at the Games.

After the match, Gi-hyuk smiled while showing his gold medal to reporters. He said, “I’m not going to the military.”

In South Korea, young men usually need to serve between 18 months and two years in the military before they turn 28. But if they win a gold medal at the Asian Games or any medal at the Olympics, they get an exemption. This means they only need to do a few weeks of light basic training.

Exemptions from military service are a sensitive issue in South Korea. Because of this, athletes often avoid discussing it.

Lee Gi-hyuk, who is 26 years old and plays as a defender in the K League, apologized for “the thoughtless remarks I made and the way I behaved after the match, things I should not have said or done, both as a captain and as a player.”

He shared his apology on Instagram. He said he 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 added.

He continued, “As an adult, I should have thought carefully before speaking. I deeply regret having spoken so carelessly, and I will continue to reflect on my actions.”

“I sincerely apologise to all the fans who have supported us wholeheartedly and who are doing their utmost to fulfil their military duty.”

Football at the Asian Games features under-23 teams, but teams can include three older players.

Gi-hyuk was part of South Korea’s disappointing World Cup performance in North America, where they were eliminated in the group stage.

Golfer Tom Kim also received a military exemption after winning gold at the Asian Games on Saturday.