Tom Kim wins Asian Games golf gold; reports say it earns military exemption

South Korean golfer Tom Kim has won a gold medal in golf at the Asian Games in Japan, the BBC and the Associated Press (AP) report.

Both outlets report that the gold medal earns Kim an exemption from South Korea's mandatory military service. Neither cites an official South Korean statement confirming it.

How he won

The gold came in the men's singles event, according to AP.

According to the BBC, Kim, 24, led going into the final round. He shot a six-under-par 64 to finish at 18 under and won by three strokes. His final round included five birdies and an eagle, followed by a bogey on the 17th and a par on the last hole, the BBC reports.

K Higa of Japan, W Ding of China and S Kaewkanjana of Thailand finished at 15 under, according to the BBC. W-H Wang of Chinese Taipei finished at 11 under.

The tournament was played at the Kasugai Country Club, the BBC reports. It says Kim travelled there from the Presidents Cup in the United States, managing on six hours of sleep and a 14-hour time difference.

The military service rule

According to the BBC, South Korean males are, in most circumstances, required to complete between 18 and 21 months of military service before the age of 28.

The BBC reports that the government grants an exemption to Asian Games champions and to Olympic medal winners of any colour. They must still complete basic training lasting less than a month.

Footballer Son Heung-min previously secured the exemption, the BBC reports. He served three weeks in 2020, two years after winning the Asian Games with South Korea.

Team event

South Korea won silver in the team event with Tom Kim, SH Kim and Mun Do-yeob, according to the BBC. It reports that SH Kim, 28, missed out on an exemption because the team won silver rather than gold. Mun has already completed his military service, the BBC says.

Background

The BBC reports that Kim is ranked world number 32, has won four PGA Tour titles and won the Scottish Open in July. At the Paris Olympics in 2024, he was tied for third after day one and finished eighth.

What the reports do not include

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include any statement from Kim or his representatives, or from South Korean authorities. They do not say when Kim would undertake basic training, which country won the team gold, or what options remain for SH Kim. They do not explicitly state the date of the final round. Vocemundi reviewed only a summary of the AP report.

Analysis

If the exemption applies as the BBC and AP report, Kim could continue his professional career without a service interruption of 18 to 21 months, beyond the short basic training the BBC describes. That remains unconfirmed by any official statement in the reports reviewed by Vocemundi. The contrasting outcome reported for his teammate SH Kim, who took silver in the team event, shows how much can depend on a single result under the rule. The case may renew attention on how South Korea links sporting achievement to service obligations, though the reports do not describe any such debate.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.