BBC reports South Korea captain boasted about avoiding military service
Seo Kyoung-duk says military exemption system needs reform
![Lee Ki-hyuk of the South Korean national football team answers reporters' questions at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport before departing for Salt Lake City, Utah, for a pre-tournament training camp ahead of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. [Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/10/08/rcv.YNA.20260518.PYH2026051817740001301_P1.jpg)
Sungshin Women's University professor Seo Kyoung-duk has called the international media attention surrounding some South Korean footballers' remarks about military exemptions following their gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games "a prime example of international embarrassment."
The BBC reported Tuesday (local time) that South Korean national team captain Lee Ki-hyuk had apologized after boasting about avoiding mandatory military service following the team's Asian Games gold medal, covering the controversy that had erupted in South Korean society over the military service exemption system.
The outlet noted that Lee, 26, apologized through a homecoming interview and on social media, saying, "I sincerely apologize to fans currently serving in the military and to everyone who cheered us on." The BBC contrasted his remarks with those of Son Heung-min at the 2018 Asian Games, when Son said winning and the team's victory mattered more to him than the military exemption.
The report explained that most South Korean men are required to serve 18 to 21 months of active military duty before turning 28, but that the South Korean government grants military service exemptions to Asian Games gold medalists and Olympic medalists.
In a separate report on Kim Joo-hyung — known as Tom Kim — winning gold in the men's individual golf event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the BBC also highlighted that he would benefit from the military exemption and again explained South Korea's mandatory military service system. The outlet additionally noted that Kim Sung-hyun, who took silver in the team golf event, would not receive the exemption.
Seo said Thursday that the episode "will go down as a prime example of international embarrassment caused by some national team athletes representing the country," adding that national team players "must know how to maintain basic dignity in their words and actions."
"It is now time to reform the military exemption system," he said.
jshan@heraldcorp.com
