Why Was Son Heung-min Exempt From Mandatory South Korea Military Service? One Medal Changed Everything
The recent incident involving South Korean captain Son Heung-min and his country's media has turned into a major storyline during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The situation intensified during South Korea's preparations for their group-stage matches, when domestic journalists were caught on an active microphone mocking Son's military service exemption, prompting the squad to launch a media boycott.
The incident unfolded during an open training session at the team's base camp in Guadalajara, Mexico. Remarks made by media personnel suggesting that Son did not properly serve in the military were inadvertently broadcast and leaked online, which quickly sparked widespread backlash from fans.
In response to the leaked tape, the Korea Football Association condemned the comments. Meanwhile, the players rallied behind their captain and refrained from speaking to the South Korean press outside of official, mandatory FIFA tournament duties.
The KFA released an official statement expressing deep regret over the inappropriate remarks made at the Guadalajara base camp.
"The Korea Football Association expresses regret over the inappropriate remarks made by some media personnel during the national football team's training at the Guadalajara base camp," the statement read.
The federation further noted that the Taegeuk Warriors were doing their best to represent South Korea on the global stage and repay the expectations of the people, adding that the leak caused great shock and disappointment to the team.
"With a sense of responsibility to represent South Korea on the global stage of the World Cup, the Taegeuk Warriors are doing their best to repay the support and expectations of the people. "However, the recent leak of inappropriate conversations between some media officials at a training site caused great shock and disappointment to the team."
The fallout also led to internal disruptions within the South Korean World Cup press corps, including the resignation of a press corps official and the cancellation of several planned player interviews.
Why Was Son Heung-min Exempt From Mandatory Military Service?
The controversy has renewed public interest in how the forward secured his exemption in the first place.
Son earned an exemption from South Korea's mandatory 18-to-21-month military service by captaining the national team to a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games.
Under South Korean law, elite athletes who win an Olympic medal or an Asian Games gold are granted a special exemption that allows them to forgo full mandatory conscription to continue their professional sports careers, provided they fulfill alternative requirements
.Without this exemption, a prolonged absence would have forced Son to put his soccer career on hold for almost two years, which would have significantly impacted his peak years with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Although he was excused from full-time enlistment, the LAFC forward was still required to complete a reduced alternative service program. This included approximately 500 hours of community service alongside a three-week basic military training program. He completed this basic training in 2020 with the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, a period during which he participated in live-fire drills, 30-kilometer hikes, and tear gas exposure.
Amid the off-field tension, South Korea managed to secure a 2-1 comeback victory over the Czech Republic and will face tournament co-hosts Mexico tonight in a Group A fixture.
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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 3:21 PM.