Tom Kim’s Asian Games gold secures military exemption in South Korea

Sun Oct 11 2026 12:03:24 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

South Korean golf star Tom Kim’s victory at the Asian Games earns him exemption from mandatory military service.

South Korea’s 24‑year‑old Tom Kim captured the men’s golf title at the Asian Games, finishing 18 under par to beat Japan’s Kosuke Higa by three strokes. The triumph gives Kim a one‑month basic training exemption, sparing him the 18‑ to 21‑month compulsory service required of all able‑bodied men before age 28. Kim’s win follows a long dash, arriving at Japan with only six hours of sleep after competing in the Presidents Cup in the United States. With four PGA Tour titles already under his belt, the exemption allows Kim to continue his growing momentum without interruption.

South Korea’s 24‑year‑old golfer Tom Kim captured the men’s golf title at the Asian Games, finishing 18 under par and beating Japan’s Kosuke Higa by three strokes.

His victory is more than a medal: it grants Kim a one‑month basic training exemption from the 18‑ to 21‑month compulsory service required of all able‑bodied South Korean men before age 28.

Kim arrived in Japan with only six hours of sleep after competing in the Presidents Cup in the United States, flying across a 14‑hour time difference and facing the mental strain of travel, yet he managed a brilliant six‑under‑par final round.

The exemption allows Kim to keep pursuing his career on the PGA Tour, where he has already won four titles, including the Scottish Open this July.

South Korea has previously rewarded athletes with military exemption, as seen with Tottenham footballer Son Heung‑min in 2020 and the national team at the 2026 Asian Games.