Lee Gi-hyuk apologises for celebrating military service exemption

The 26-year-old, who plays for Gangwon FC in the K League, held up his gold medal to announce he would not be going to the military. In a social media post reported by local media, Lee later expressed regret at his celebration, saying he was "deeply sorry to the fans who are currently fulfilling their military duty, as well as to all those who sincerely supported us".

South Korean males must typically complete between 18 and 21 months of active military service before turning 28. Asian Games champions and Olympic medal winners of any colour qualify for an exemption that bypasses active duty, though they still complete basic training lasting less than a month.

Golfer Tom Kim also secured the exemption by winning gold at the Games. Former Tottenham midfielder Son Heung-min previously benefited from the exemption after winning the Asian Games in 2018, serving for just three weeks in 2020.

According to BBC, Lee acknowledged his misstep in a follow-up statement: "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."