Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-03 · by Stephen Wade The Associated Press
South Korean golfer Tom Kim won gold at the Asian Games in Nagoya, securing a military exemption back home with his 18-under performance. He outperformed other competitors by shooting a final round of 6-under 64. While acknowledging the pressure and importance of the medal for national pride, he emphasized bringing honor to his country over personal benefits like avoiding mandatory military service. South Korea also secured exemptions for baseball players who defeated Japan, highlighting the ongoing debate about the fairness of such exemption policies in the country.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-03,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
South Korean golfer Tom Kim secured a gold medal in men’s singles golf at the Asian Games on Saturday, winning by three strokes with a final round of 6-under 64. This victory earned him an exemption from South Korea's mandatory military service, which typically lasts about 18 to 21 months for able-bodied males before age 28. Kim, who flew directly from the Presidents Cup in the U.S., expressed pride in representing his country and acknowledged the pressure of competing for both a medal and exemption. In South Korea, gold medalists at the Asian Games or Olympic medallists receive a full military service waiver except for basic training that lasts less than a month.
Written for “South Korean Golfer Military Exemption” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
NAGOYA, Japan (AP) — South Korean golfer Tom Kim got what he came for by winning the men’s singles on Saturday at the Asian Games: a gold medal and an exemption from military service back home.
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he → get → service
He shot a 6-under 64 in Saturday’s final round for a four-day total of 18-under 262.
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He → shoot → under
Three golfers were three back and faced a playoff with Kazuki Higa of Japan taking silver and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana earning bronze.
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Kaewkanjana → face → bronze
Tom Kim made a special effort to win in Japan, flying across the Pacific when the Presidents Cup competition ended last weekend.
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competition → make → Pacific
Asked about the exemption, he took the gold-medal approach.
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he → ask → approach
“Despite that, I’m more proud that I’m able to bring a medal for my country,” he said.
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he → ’m → country
He did acknowledge pressure — the flight, the expectations, the gold medal and more.
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He → acknowledge → pressure
“I tried not to think about it,” he said.
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he → try → it
“I just tried to play (the) best for my country.
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I → try → country
It’s a big stepping stone.
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It → ’ → ?
I think the pressure that I felt this week, I’ll be able to implement it in my upcoming seasons.
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I → think → seasons
Most able-bodied men in South Korea must serve about 18 months in uniform, but a medal of any color at the Olympics — or gold in the Asian Games — provides an out.
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medal → serve → out
However, South Korea failed to win the team competition.
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Korea → fail → competition
That means that S.H. Kim, who played on the team with Tom Kim, did not get the exemption.
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who → mean → exemption
He closed with a 73 and the third team member, 35-year-old Mun Do-yeob, shot 70.
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member → close → 70
Mun had already served and did not need the exemption.
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Mun → serve → exemption
Kim Joo-hyung goes by Tom Kim when he plays on the PGA Tour, and Kim Seong-hyeon goes by S.H. Kim when he plays abroad.
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he → go → Kim
China won the team event with silver for South Korea and bronze for Japan.
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China → win → Japan
The military exemption in South Korea also applies to classical and traditional musicians, dancers and other artists who are viewed as enhancing national pride.
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who → apply → pride
The teams were made up of three players, but only the best two scores counted each day toward the team total.
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scores → make → total
Tom Kim dominated the 7,035-yard at the Kasugai Country Club.
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Kim → dominate → Club
The last two days he carded eagles on the par-5 13th, a 520-yard hole that was very gettable on sunny days for the final rounds with little wind.
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that → card → wind
South Korea at the games have taken advantage
Sixteen South Korea baseball players are also exempt after defeating Japan 3-1 in the Asian Games final earlier in the week.
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players → take → week
So are three South Koreans who won gold in esports, an event at the Asian Games.
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who → win → Games
“Of course the result is important, and the fact that the players will be exempt from the military service is important,” said Lee Sang-hyeok, who is known as “Faker” in the world of esports.
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who → say → esports
Lee won gold three years ago at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, and this time helped teammates avoid the conscription.
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teammates → win → conscription
Some at home question if the exemption — created more than 50 years ago — is fair.
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exemption → question → home
The South Korean news agency Yonhap a few days ago termed the system “outdated” and called for change.
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agency → term → change
The news agency said the baseball game victory over Japan “symbolically reflects the changed times and the public’s expectations.”
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victory → say → times
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