South Korean golfer Tom Kim secured a highly coveted military service exemption on Saturday by capturing the men's singles gold medal at the Asian Games. Kim shot a final-round 6-under 64 to finish the 72-hole stroke-play tournament with an 18-under 262 total. He dominated the 7,035-yard Kasugai Country Club course, carding eagles on the par-5 13th hole—a 520-yard hole that was highly gettable under sunny, low-wind conditions—during each of the final two rounds.
Japan's Kazuki Higa claimed the silver medal and Thailand's Sadom Kaewkanjana took bronze after a playoff emerged from a three-way tie for second, three shots behind Kim. Kim, who goes by Kim Joo-hyung on the PGA Tour, made a grueling trans-Pacific journey to compete in Japan immediately after the Presidents Cup concluded last weekend.
While acknowledging the intense pressure of travel, high expectations, and the looming gold medal, Kim emphasized national pride over the personal benefit. "Despite that, I'm more proud that I'm able to bring a medal for my country," he said. "I tried not to think about it. 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."
South Korea requires most able-bodied men to serve approximately 18 months in uniform. However, athletes can earn an exemption by winning any Olympic medal or a gold medal at the Asian Games. While Tom Kim secured his exemption, South Korea's team failed to win the team competition, which was claimed by China, leaving South Korea with silver and Japan with bronze. Consequently, Kim's teammate S.H. Kim (Kim Seong-hyeon), who closed with a 73, missed out on the exemption. The third team member, 35-year-old Mun Do-yeob, shot a 70 but had already completed his military service. The team format counted only the best two scores daily from the three-man squads.
The military exemption policy, established over 50 years ago, also covers classical and traditional musicians, dancers, and other artists deemed to enhance national prestige. Several other South Korean athletes secured exemptions at these games, including 16 baseball players after a 3-1 final victory over Japan, and three esports gold medalists. Among them was legendary esports player Lee Sang-hyeok, known as "Faker" in the gaming world, who previously won gold three years ago in Hangzhou, China. Faker helped his teammates avoid conscription this time and remarked, "Of course the result is important, and the fact that the players will be exempt from the military service is important."
Despite the celebrations, the exemption system faces growing domestic debate. The South Korean news agency Yonhap recently labeled the policy "outdated" and called for reform, suggesting that the baseball team's victory "symbolically reflects the changed times and the public's expectations."
