Golfer Tom Kim captured the men’s singles gold medal at the Asian Games and, along with the prestigious victory, earned an exemption from South Korea’s mandatory military service – a reward for the country’s top athletes.
Fresh off competing in the Presidents Cup the previous week, Kim delivered a stellar performance at the Asian Games. He carded a final round 6-under 64, bringing his event total to an impressive 18-under 262. His strong finish allowed him to narrowly edge out Japan’s Kazuki Higa, who earned the silver medal, while Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana secured bronze.
In South Korea, almost every able-bodied man must serve 18 months in the military under the Military Service Act. However, athletes who win gold, silver, or bronze medals
at the Olympics or Asian Games are granted exemptions from this obligation.
Speaking to the Associated Press, Kim emphasized that his primary motivation was to make his country proud and perform at his highest level, rather than focusing on the possibility of a military exemption.
“I tried not to think about it,” Kim said of the exemption. “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.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Golfer avoids military service by winning gold at Asian Games
