Tom Kim has secured an exemption from the full mandatory military service required of South Korean men after triumphing in the men’s individual stroke‑play competition at the Asian Games. The 24‑year‑old Korean golfer entered the final round holding a one‑stroke advantage and then delivered an astonishing six‑under‑par 64, clinching the gold medal and finishing three strokes ahead of Japan’s Higa Kazuki, China’s Ding Wenyi, and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana. Kim’s performance at the Asian Games came on the heels of a strong showing for the International Team at last week’s Presidents Cup, where he posted the highest individual score against Team USA.
Shortly after the Presidents Cup, he traveled to Japan to compete at the Kasugai Country Club, joining two other South Korean men’s golfers representing their nation. In South Korea, all able‑bodied men are obligated to enlist in the armed forces by the age of 28 and serve for a period ranging from 18 to 21 months.
However, the law provides a special exemption for athletes who capture a gold medal at the Asian Games or an Olympic medal. By winning the individual gold, Kim satisfied the criteria needed to avoid a lengthy interruption to his professional golf career. The four‑time PGA Tour champion, who also captured the Genesis Scottish Open title in July, needed to win either the individual or the team competition at the Asian Games to claim the exemption.
His victory means he will now only be required to complete basic military training, a short program that lasts less than a month. This mirrors the experience of former Tottenham Hotspur captain Heung‑Min Son, who completed a three‑week basic training stint in 2020 after helping South Korea secure the Asian Games gold medal in 2018. "It’s unbelievable," Kim said after his win.
"I had one goal, and to be able to represent Korea and to win the gold medal, it’s something that I will never forget in my career." For the team portion of the Asian Games competition, Kim teamed up with fellow South Koreans Seonghyeon Kim and Doyeob Mun. The trio entered the final round with a one‑stroke lead at the top of the leaderboard, but ultimately finished two strokes behind China, taking the silver medal in the team event. During the decisive Saturday round, Kim got off to a blistering start, carding four under par on his front nine with birdies on holes 2, 4, 6 and 8. He added another birdie on the 11th and then stretched his lead further with an eagle on the 13th, bringing his total to 19 under par.
A bogey on the 17th reduced his score to 18 under, but a steady par on the final hole secured his position at the summit of the podium. Kim’s teammates also performed admirably. Doyeob Mun finished tied for eighth place at eight under par, while Seonghyeon Kim ended the tournament tied for 24th at one over par. Prior to this Asian Games triumph, Kim had attempted to earn his exemption at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he fell just four strokes short of the bronze‑medal position.
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics would have represented his final chance to qualify for an exemption before reaching the age limit for mandatory service. Other South Korean golfers have already benefited from the same rule. In the 2023 Asian Games, teammates Sungjae Im and Si‑Woo Kim captured the team gold, thereby securing their own military exemptions. Conversely, players such as Sang‑moon Bae, a member of the 2015 Presidents Cup team, have seen their professional trajectories disrupted by the requirement to serve.
Kim’s exemption allows him to continue focusing on his PGA Tour schedule without the looming interruption of a lengthy conscription period. Fans can follow his upcoming tournaments on Sky Sports, stream live coverage on NOW, or catch his performances at one of the 1,700 courses available for booking across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The significance of Kim’s achievement extends beyond personal glory; it underscores how sporting success can intersect with national obligations, offering athletes a pathway to balance their careers with civic duties. By earning the gold medal, Kim not only added a prestigious title to his résumé but also secured the freedom to pursue his passion for golf uninterrupted, a benefit that will shape the next phase of his professional journey.