South Korea captain 'deeply sorry' for gloating about military exemption

South Korea's Asian Games football captain, Lee Gi-hyuk, expressed deep regret on Sunday for boasting that his gold medal meant he would be exempt from military service. South Korea emerged victorious over hosts Japan with a 1-0 win in the men's final in Toyota, near Nagoya, securing their fourth consecutive Games title. Following the match, the 26-year-old defender, who plays in the domestic K League, smiled and held up his gold medal, proudly announcing: "I'm not going to the military."

All able-bodied South Korean males are typically required to serve between 18 months and two years of military duty before turning 28. However, government policy grants Asian Games gold medals and Olympic medals of any color an exemption, resulting in just a brief period of light basic training. Exemptions have sparked controversy in South Korea, prompting athletes to generally avoid discussing the topic.

Lee acknowledged the "thoughtless remarks" he made and his behavior post-match, admitting he should not have said or done certain things as both captain and player.

In a statement on Instagram, Lee expressed his remorse, stating he was caught up in the joy, adrenalin, and excitement of the victory, leading to the regrettable actions.