Asian Games footballers' military service remarks draw backlash in South Korea
Version 2: New coverage added details of apologies by Lee Ki-hyuk and Yang Min-hyuk, a video by Choi Woo-jin that drew criticism, and renewed attention to Lee Kang-in's past remarks; the core dispute remains unchanged.
In short
South Korea's under-23 football team beat Japan 1-0 on Oct 3 to win a fourth consecutive Asian Games gold, but remarks by some players about military service benefits afterwards drew criticism. On Oct 5, Super Junior member and actor Choi Siwon shared Son Heung-min's 2018 gold-medal interview with a message that this is how a winning interview goes, which coverage read as an indirect rebuke; Newsis reported he called the situation “truly regrettable”. Maeil Business reported the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee expressed regret and political circles called for a review of the arts and sports personnel system, while Korea Economic Daily reported calls to abolish the gold-medal exemption.
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South Korea's under-23 football team beat Japan 1-0 in the Asian Games final on Oct 3 to win a fourth consecutive men's football gold medal, Maeil Business reported. Korea Economic Daily, which identified the tournament as the 2026 Aichi·Nagoya Asian Games, said the team achieved a first-ever four consecutive titles. [ 1 , 3 ]
Remarks by some players about military service benefits after the win drew criticism. Maeil Business reported that Yang Min-hyuk said he had played looking at the military service benefit as a reward rather than the medal or trophy; captain Lee Ki-hyuk, who was about to enlist, said “군대 안 간다”; and Park Seung-su posted a locker-room photo of himself wearing a discharge cap. Asia Economy also reported that Choi Woo-jin posted a video of himself limping and then taking the gold medal from his shoe, drawing criticism for reminding people of a specific incident, and said Lee Ki-hyuk and Yang Min-hyuk later apologised. [ 1 , 8 ]
On Oct 5, Super Junior member and actor Choi Siwon shared a video of Son Heung-min's interview after winning gold at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games on his social media, with a message to the effect of “this is how a winning interview goes”, according to Maeil Business, Chosun Ilbo and Asia Economy. In the video, Son credited the public and said the gold medal was the people's, not his own, Maeil Business reported; Asia Economy reported he said it was a tournament they had come to win and that he had told the players that first. [ 1 , 2 , 7 , 8 ]
Coverage read Choi's post as aimed at the current team's attitude. Chosun Ilbo referred to a “political colour controversy” around him without explaining it in its summary. Newsis reported that he rebuked the team over the military exemption remarks and said “참으로 안타깝다”, and Chosun Ilbo later reported that he shared his thoughts on the remarks. Asia Economy said he also commented on a post criticising the players, saying that if they had thought of soldiers performing their duties and of the dignity and responsibility of national representatives, such remarks would not have come easily. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
The controversy widened to South Korea's military service benefit system. Maeil Business reported the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee expressed regret and political circles called for a review of the arts and sports personnel system. Korea Economic Daily reported growing calls to abolish the gold-medal military service exemption, with a headline referencing BTS having served, and said archery gold medallist Kim Je-deok drew attention for saying he was also a soldier. [ 1 , 3 ]
Asia Economy also revisited Lee Kang-in's remarks after the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, where he said military service had not been a big burden and that he focused on his first win for the national team. The outlet said both Son and Lee had received military exemption benefits through gold medals but had emphasised national pride and the win itself in their interviews, in contrast to some of the current players' remarks. [ 8 ]
Maeil Business noted that the benefit for Asian Games gold medallists is not a full military exemption: recipients complete basic military training, are assigned as arts and sports personnel, work for 34 months in their field and carry out a set number of volunteer hours. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The dispute has moved beyond sport to South Korea's military service benefit for athletes, with political circles now calling for the arts and sports personnel system to be reviewed and Korea Economic Daily reporting growing voices to abolish the gold-medal exemption. Athletes' public remarks and celebrity interventions are likely to keep the issue in national debate, though no decision by any authority is reported.
Key facts
- South Korea's under-23 team beat Japan 1-0 in the Asian Games final on Oct 3, winning a fourth consecutive men's football gold. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Remarks about military service benefits by players after the win drew criticism; Maeil Business and Asia Economy named Yang Min-hyuk, captain Lee Ki-hyuk and Park Seung-su among those involved. [ 1 , 8 ]
- Actor and Super Junior member Choi Siwon shared Son Heung-min's 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games interview on his social media on Oct 5, with a message to the effect of “this is how a winning interview goes”. [ 1 , 2 , 7 , 8 ]
- Coverage read the post as aimed at the current team's attitude, and Newsis reported Choi called the situation “truly regrettable”. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Lee Ki-hyuk and Yang Min-hyuk later apologised, according to Asia Economy. [ 8 ]
- The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee expressed regret and political circles called for reviewing the arts and sports personnel system, while Korea Economic Daily reported growing calls to abolish the gold-medal exemption. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Asian Games gold medallists do not receive a full military exemption: they complete basic military training, serve as arts and sports personnel for 34 months and carry out volunteer hours. [ 1 ]
- Asia Economy said Lee Kang-in's 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games remarks were also re-examined; he said military service was not a big burden and focused on his first national team win. [ 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- South Korea's under-23 football team beat Japan 1-0 in the Asian Games final on Oct 3 and won a fourth consecutive men's football gold. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Remarks by some players about military service benefits after the win drew criticism, and Yang Min-hyuk, captain Lee Ki-hyuk and Park Seung-su were named in at least two outlets. [ 1 , 8 ]
- Super Junior member and actor Choi Siwon shared Son Heung-min's 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games interview on his social media on Oct 5. [ 1 , 2 , 7 , 8 ]
- Choi Siwon added a message to the effect of “this is how a winning interview goes”. [ 1 , 2 , 7 , 8 ]
- Coverage interpreted Choi's post as indirect criticism of the current team's attitude. [ 2 , 7 , 8 ]
- Choi Siwon said the situation was “truly regrettable”, according to Newsis and Chosun Ilbo, and Asia Economy. [ 4 , 5 , 8 ]
- Calls to review or abolish the military service benefit system followed the controversy. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- What the “political colour controversy” around Choi Siwon refers to. Only Chosun Ilbo's headline and truncated summary mention it; the other documents do not describe such a controversy.
- Whether the military service benefit for athletes will actually be revised or abolished. The documents report only that such voices or calls are being raised; no decision, proposal or timetable is reported.
- Whether Choi Siwon directly criticised or named any player. Documents say he posted a message without naming anyone and describe the rebuke as the outlets' interpretation.
- How many players made controversial remarks or actions. Documents refer to “some players” and name several, but give no complete list.
- What specific incident Choi Woo-jin's video reminded people of. Asia Economy mentions the criticism but does not identify the incident.
- Whether all players involved apologised. Asia Economy says players apologised in turn but details only Lee Ki-hyuk and Yang Min-hyuk, and its article text is truncated.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Oct 5: Maeil Business publishes its report on the players' military service remarks, reaction and Choi Siwon's social media post. [ 1 ]
- Oct 5: Chosun Ilbo publishes its report on Choi Siwon sharing Son Heung-min's interview, referring to a political colour controversy around him. [ 2 ]
- Oct 5: Korea Economic Daily publishes its report on calls to abolish the gold-medal military service exemption and related Asian Games reaction. [ 3 ]
- Oct 5: Newsis publishes its report saying Choi Siwon rebuked the team and called the situation “truly regrettable”. [ 4 ]
- Oct 5: Chosun Ilbo publishes a report saying Choi Siwon shared his thoughts on the team's military exemption remarks. [ 5 ]
- Oct 5: Seoul Shinmun publishes a report on the video Choi Siwon shared. [ 6 ]
- Oct 6: Chosun Ilbo publishes a follow-up report on Choi Siwon sharing Son Heung-min's past interview. [ 7 ]
- Oct 6: Asia Economy publishes a detailed report including players' apologies and past remarks by Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in. [ 8 ]