European players may return en masse; it rests on Coach Lee Min-seong, facing a 'historic national disaster'

*This content was translated by AI.

"In a way, this is a critical juncture for the players. Even if my body breaks apart, I will do my utmost to ensure the players receive military service benefits."

It was last June. When appointed as the head coach of the U22 national team set to compete in the 2026 Aichi·Nagoya (Japan) Asian Games, Coach Lee Min-seong emphasized 'military service benefits' from his inaugural press conference. His resolve was to directly resolve the players' military service issues by securing a gold medal at the Asian Games.

In men's football at the Asian Games, only those who win the gold medal receive military service exemptions. Son Heung-min (LAFC), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) all resolved their military service issues through Asian Games gold medals. From the 2014 Incheon Games to the 2018 Jakarta·Palembang (Indonesia) Games, and the 2022 Hangzhou (China) Games, South Korean men's football has topped the Asian Games podium for three consecutive recent editions.

Military service is a concern for all football players. This is especially true for players with strong ambitions to challenge overseas, such as in Europe. The fierce competition for spots in the Asian Games roster, which offers a high possibility of resolving military service issues, stems from the same context. Of course, there is also the possibility of resolving military service through the Olympics, but it is not realistically easy since achieving at least a bronze medal is required. Since age restrictions were introduced for men's Olympic football with the U23 national team, South Korea has stood on the podium only once. This is why the significance of the Asian Games must be different.

In other words, it means that the careers of generations who fail to win gold at the Asian Games could become severely tangled. Unless they secure one of the three wild card spots (for players aged 24 and over) for the Asian Games four years from now, their opportunity to resolve military service issues will essentially disappear. Ultimately, if they fail to win gold at this Asian Games, players who headed to Europe early on may have to return en masse in line with potential dates for entering the Military Manpower Administration's Army Soccer Team. Among the 23rd players named for this Aichi·Nagoya tournament, nine are European-based players, eight of whom have not yet completed their military service. Conversely, for players who dreamed of advancing to Europe in the future, military service issues will inevitably become an obstacle.

The problem is that these players at this age must eventually establish themselves as key members of the A national team. For example, Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), 'wild card' Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic FC), and Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City) are already players who have competed in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. In addition to them, players who will lead the future of Korean football are preparing for the Asian Games. In the worst-case scenario, they may have to return to Korea without growing further in Europe because they must fulfill their military service obligations. This would be a clear loss for Korean football as well.

Fortunately, the task of winning gold in men's football at the Asian Games is not difficult. South Korea has a clear motivation to resolve military service issues, whereas other teams are largely uninterested in this tournament. In fact, Japan has recently sent U21 national teams without wild cards instead of U23 teams to recent tournaments. For Korean football, which mobilizes European-based players with strong motivation, the Asian Games men's football tournament is one where only gold medal is the goal.

However, the biggest problem is that the atmosphere surrounding Coach Lee Min-seong's team is not normal. Since its launch last June, the team has suffered repeated defeats against Asian teams, and even recently suffered a shocking loss to Kyrgyzstan, which was short by one player. At the AFC U23 Asian Cup last January, they lost to Uzbekistan and Japan, who are two years younger, and also suffered a historic first defeat to Vietnam, leading to a string of humiliating results. There is now growing anxiety about challenging for gold at the Asian Games, which has not been a difficult task for Korean football in the past.

Therefore, the remaining preparation process for the Asian Games is even more important. Now, tactical preparations that can guarantee results are needed. From the final roster selection process, there was already some controversy; now, Coach Lee Min-seong has assembled the national team only with the players he wants and added three wild cards. This means there is no room for excuses. If, despite this, the worst disaster of failing to win gold at the Asian Games cannot be avoided, the problem will inevitably grow larger. It is not just Coach Lee Min-seong's career that is at stake. A massive backlash, including a mass return of European-based players who lead the future of Korean football and further weakening of Korean football's competitiveness, becomes unavoidable. This is why they must prepare for the Asian Games with immense responsibility.

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*This content was translated by AI.