Lee Gi-hyuk has issued a public apology after footage emerged of the South Korea captain triumphantly announcing he was "not going to the military" moments after his side beat Japan 1-0 in the Asian Games football final.

The 26-year-old Gangwon FC midfielder — one of the overage players in South Korea's Under-23 squad — held up his gold medal and made the remark in a manner that many back home found disrespectful to those currently completing their service. He quickly moved to draw a line under the episode via social media.

"I am deeply sorry to the fans who are currently fulfilling their military duty, as well as to all those who sincerely supported us," Lee wrote, according to local media reports. "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."

Why does winning the Asian Games matter so much off the pitch?

South Korean males are required, in most circumstances, to complete between 18 and 21 months of active military service before the age of 28. The obligation is taken seriously — and the implications for professional athletes are obvious.

To offset the disruption to elite sport, the South Korean government grants a service exemption (reduced to a basic training period of under a month) to Asian Games champions and Olympic medal winners of any colour. It is a policy that has a direct bearing on footballing careers at the highest level.

The most prominent recent beneficiary was Son Heung-min. The former Tottenham forward served just three weeks of military service in 2020 after winning the Asian Games with South Korea two years earlier — a result widely credited with allowing him to continue his career in the Premier League without a prolonged absence. Golfer Tom Kim is another sportsman who secured the same exemption at the current Asian Games.

Context matters — but so does the reaction

It is worth stressing that the relief athletes feel at avoiding 18 months of service is entirely understandable. For a 26-year-old professional, that window represents a potentially career-defining chunk of time. The problem, as Lee appears to recognise, was not the feeling but the public expression of it — particularly given that fellow citizens of the same age are fulfilling the duty without fanfare.

"I sincerely apologise to all the fans who have supported us wholeheartedly and who are doing their utmost to fulfil their military duty," he added in his statement.

South Korea's football programme has long used the Asian Games as a vehicle for protecting its most talented players. The system itself is government policy, broadly accepted within the country — it is the manner of Lee's celebration, rather than the exemption, that has drawn criticism.

Whether the apology is sufficient to fully settle the matter at home remains to be seen, but it at least draws a clearer line than the original clip. Lee and his team-mates return to their clubs with gold medals and, crucially for their long-term careers, with their footballing futures intact.

Frequently asked

Why do South Korean footballers try to avoid military service?
South Korean men are legally required to complete between 18 and 21 months of active military service before the age of 28. For professional footballers, that absence could effectively end or seriously damage their careers at the highest level.
How did Son Heung-min avoid full military service?
Son Heung-min won gold at the 2018 Asian Games with South Korea. Under government policy, Asian Games champions and Olympic medal winners receive an exemption that reduces mandatory service to a short basic training period — Son completed roughly three weeks in 2020.
What happened at the Asian Games football final?
South Korea beat hosts Japan 1-0 in the final to win the gold medal. After the match, captain Lee Gi-hyuk publicly announced he would be avoiding mandatory military service, a remark he later apologised for in a social media statement.