Kim wins golf gold at Asian Games and gets exemption from military service
Quick Look
South Korean golfer Kim won gold at the Asian Games, granting him an exemption from his country's mandatory military service after hitting 18 under par.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
South Korea grants military service exemptions to athletes who have won gold medals in the Asian Games or any Olympic medal. South Korean men perform mandatory military service of at least 18 months.
Kim scored 64 strokes in the final round, ending the tournament with a total of 262 strokes, or 18 strokes under par, three strokes ahead of Japanese Kazuki Higa, Chinese Ding Wen Yi, and Thai Sodom Kayokangana.
With no prize money, the continent's best players usually ignore the Asian Games, but there was a lot at stake for Kim.
South Korea grants exemptions from military service to athletes who win a gold medal in the Asian Games or any medal in the Olympic Games.
Able-bodied South Korean men usually perform military service for at least 18 months as part of efforts to maintain a deterrent force against North Korea.
Kim emphasized that he was more focused on winning a medal for South Korea rather than any personal motivation.
"It's a weird feeling. I'm just happy it's over," said Kim, who competed for a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics before finishing eighth.
He continued, "This was the longest day I have ever experienced in my life. It was only six or five hours, but it was definitely the longest, and I am happy that it is over."
