South Korean golfer Tom Kim won the Asian Games men’s singles gold medal on Saturday, Oct. 3, earning an exemption from the military-service requirement that applies to most able-bodied men in South Korea. Kim said he was proud to bring a medal to his country. His victory also put him among athletes whose medals allow them to avoid about 18 months in uniform.
“Despite that, I’m more proud that I’m able to bring a medal for my country,” Kim said when asked about the exemption. The policy grants exemptions for any-color Olympic medals and Asian Games gold medals. Classical and traditional musicians, dancers and other artists regarded as enhancing national pride also qualify.
Medals and Military Service
Kim shot a 6-under 64 in the final round, finishing with a four-day total of 18-under 262. Three golfers finished three strokes behind him and entered a playoff. Japan’s Kazuki Higa took silver, while Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana won bronze.
Kim, also known as Kim Joo-hyung, flew across the Pacific after the Presidents Cup competition ended the previous weekend to compete in Japan. The flight, the expectations and the chance to win gold all created pressure, he said.
“I tried not to think about it,” he said. “I just tried to play (the) 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.”
The exemption system connects military-service status to selected sporting results and artistic fields. Most able-bodied men in South Korea must serve about 18 months, while Asian Games gold brings an exemption. The policy covered Tom Kim, but not every member of South Korea’s golf team.
Team Results, Unequal Outcomes
South Korea failed to win the golf team competition, leaving Tom Kim’s teammate S.H. Kim without an exemption. S.H. Kim closed with a 73. The third team member, 35-year-old Mun Do-yeob, shot 70 and had already completed military service.
Kim Seong-hyeon uses the name S.H. Kim when playing abroad. China won the team event, South Korea took silver and Japan finished with bronze. The tournament used 72 holes of stroke play. Each team had three players, and only its best two scores counted each day toward the team total.
Tom Kim played the 7,035-yard course at Kasugai Country Club. On both of the final two days, he made an eagle on the par-5 13th, a 520-yard hole reachable on sunny days with little wind.
Other Athletes and Calls for Change
Sixteen South Korean baseball players also earned exemptions after South Korea beat Japan 3-1 in the Asian Games final earlier in the week. Three South Koreans who won gold in esports qualified, too.
Lee Sang-hyeok, known as “Faker” in esports, said both the result and the military exemption mattered. “Of course the result is important, and the fact that the players will be exempt from the military service is important.” Lee won gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, three years ago, helping teammates avoid conscription this time.
South Korean news agency Yonhap called the exemption system “outdated” and urged change. Yonhap said the baseball victory over Japan “symbolically reflects the changed times and the public’s expectations.” Its account tied exemptions to specific medal results and to categories of artists regarded as enhancing national pride.