By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-10-03 16:45:43 | Updated at 2026-10-03 17:36:04
1 hour ago
South Korean golf star Tom Kim has secured exemption from his nation's compulsory military service after claiming individual gold at the Asian Games.
Kim delivered a commanding performance at Kasugai Country Club, finishing 18 under par and winning by a three-stroke margin.
The South Korean entered the final day with the lead and fired a superb six-under-par 64, recording five birdies and an eagle before a nervy bogey at the 17th.
He still had enough of a cushion, and a tap-in par on the 18th prompted an audible roar of relief.
He said: "I tried not to think about it.
"I just tried to play best for my country. It's a big stepping stone.
"I think the pressure that I felt this week, I'll be able to implement it in my upcoming seasons."
Under South Korean law, nearly all able-bodied men must complete between 18 and 21 months of national service before turning 28.
Tom Kim has secured a military exemption
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The Government does, however, grant exemptions - requiring only basic training of less than a month - to those who win gold at the Asian Games or secure any medal at the Olympics.
Former Tottenham forward Son Heung-min earned his own exemption after South Korea triumphed at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
Son went on to complete three weeks of basic military training during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, taking advantage of the pause in the Premier League season.
Beyond sport, the exemption extends to classical and traditional musicians, dancers and other artists deemed to bolster national prestige.
Kim said: 'I tried not to think about it. I just tried to play (the) best for my country. It's a big stepping stone'
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Although Kim dominated the individual event over 72 holes, South Korea fell short in the team competition, finishing behind China, with Japan taking bronze.
The format counted only the two best scores from each three-man squad per round.
That result means teammate Kim Seong-hyeon, who closed with a 73, missed out on an exemption.
The third member of the squad, 35-year-old Mun Do-yeob, carded a final-round 70 but had already completed his service.
Former Tottenham forward Son Heung-min earned his own exemption after South Korea triumphed at the 2018 Asian Games
Elsewhere at the Games, 16 South Korean baseball players secured exemptions following a 3-1 victory over Japan in the final.
Three esports competitors also won gold at the Asian Games.
Lee Sang-hyeok, the legendary player known as "Faker," had already won gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, but this time he helped his teammates dodge conscription.
He said: "Of course the result is important, and the fact that the players will be exempt from the military service is important."
