Olympic football medal for South Korea: Celtic midfielder Ki Sung Yueng aiming to avoid military service

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has revealed that the opportunity to gain exemption from serving in the armed forces provided Ki Sung Yueng with all the incentive he needed to convert the decisive penalty in the 5-4 shoot-out victory over Team GB at Cardiff on Saturday.

The 23-year-old midfielder, who was chosen as South Korea’s Player of the Year in 2011, beat Jack Butland after Daniel Sturridge had missed for the host nation.
Now Ki and his team-mates have the chance to go for gold against Brazil in the semi-finals at Old Trafford on Tuesday, aware that a win could see them avoid national service.
Every Korean must serve for 18 months before the age of 29 or face being exiled from the country (which is still technically at war with neighbouring North Korea) but their footballers have been told they will be excluded from this mandatory duty it if they bring a medal back home.
“I spoke to Ki before he went away,” said Lennon. “They are very proud to be playing for their country; it’s a big event for them.
“There’s also the added carrot that - if they can get a medal - they might be permitted to leave out the two years’ military service they’re bound to do.

“So that’s a huge incentive for him on a personal level. There was nothing we could do [to stop him competing] because he’s an under-23 player and he got the call-up.
“I don’t know how his national service would impact on his contract here. I think there are a couple of their boys playing abroad and they have to do it: it’s compulsory.
“When their time comes up they’ve got to go and do it and it’s before a certain age as well.
“As soon as his participation in the Olympics is finished he’ll come back and join us. I hope he comes back injury-free as well.
Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Hughes has identified Ki as a potential signing but there won’t be any business done until the Koreans’ Olympic sojourn comes to an end.
“It’s all gone quiet,” said Lennon. “They may come back again, I don’t know. But I haven’t heard anything more on that front.