Regardless of your interest in the final round of the Olympic men’s golf tournament on Sunday, it is worth supporting South Korea’s Tom Kim and Byeong Hun An in their quest for medals. The outcome of this tournament could have life-changing implications for these two golfers, unlike many other sporting events where the pressure to win is often the main focus.
In South Korea, all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 35 are obligated to serve in the military for a minimum of 18 months, and in some cases, up to two years. This requirement applies to everyone, regardless of fame or popularity. Even internationally renowned boy band members have been subject to this rule.
An acknowledged this reality when he stated, “I guess the other Koreans would say, ‘Everyone goes, so why do we get exempt from it?'” during a press conference at Le Golf National this week.
However, there are exceptions to this rule, and one of them is winning an Olympic medal. For South Korean golfers, winning any tournament other than the Asian Games, including major championships, does not fulfill the exemption criteria.
Both Kim, 22, and An, 32, have a chance to win a medal on Sunday. An is currently seven strokes behind the leaders, Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm, with a score of 7 under par after a strong performance on Saturday. Kim, on the other hand, started the round three shots back and finished with a score of 10 under par, tied for sixth place.
Kim, a rising star on the PGA Tour, has been relatively quiet about the topic this week. When asked about how he deals with the significance of being in contention at the Olympics, he simply responded, “Good question.”
Before the tournament, Kim expressed his desire to stand in the stadium not for personal exemption but for his country. He emphasized the importance of national pride and the honor of representing South Korea. “We have our services, and it is what it is,” he said.
This situation has arisen in golf before. Last year, Si Woo Kim and Sungjae Im earned exemption from military service by winning a gold medal at the Asian Games as part of the South Korean team.
Sang-Moon Bae is another notable example. He had a successful career on the PGA Tour before serving in the military, but his performance suffered upon his return to golf.
An summed up the challenges faced by golfers who have to fulfill their military service, saying, “It’s not easy. You don’t get to practice or play for a year and a half-ish. It’s very harsh for golfers.”
Photo by Byeong Hun An Instagram
