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 about his gold medal which exempted him from military service. South Korea secured a 1-0 victory over hosts Japan in the men's final at Toyota, near Nagoya, securing their fourth consecutive Games title. After the match, Lee smiled as he displayed his gold medal to reporters and stated, "I'm not going to the military."

According to the South Korean government, able-bodied males are typically obligated to complete military service ranging from 18 months to two years before the age of 28. However, athletes who win Asian Games gold medals or any color Olympic medals receive an exemption, allowing them to undergo only brief basic training. The sensitive nature of exemptions in South Korea means athletes generally avoid discussing the topic.

Lee, a 26-year-old defender who plays in the domestic K League, apologized for his "thoughtless remarks" and behavior following the match, acknowledging that both as captain and player, "I should not have said or done those things." In an Instagram post, he admitted he was "caught up in the happiness, adre" (the source is incomplete).