South Korea captain apologises for gloating over military service exemption

South Korea captain Lee Gi-hyuk apologised for celebrating his military service exemption after winning gold at the Asian Games, saying he should have been more thoughtful.

South Korea's captain Lee Gi-hyuk has apologised for gloating about avoiding mandatory military service after his team beat Japan 1-0 to win gold at the Asian Games. The 26-year-old held up his medal and announced he would not be going to the military, but later issued a social media apology saying he was "deeply sorry" to fans currently serving and those who supported the team. South Korean males must typically serve 18-21 months of active military service before age 28, but Asian Games gold medalists and Olympic medal winners receive an exemption, requiring only basic training lasting less than a month.