"Disappointing and regrettable": K League managers also voice criticism over 'Asian Games military service remarks'

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Following the men's football team's fourth consecutive gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, senior figures in the football community and K League managers have successively voiced criticism regarding the controversial remarks related to military service that emerged afterward.

Ahead of the match against Incheon United held on the 9th at the Incheon Football Stadium, Pohang Steelers manager Park Tae-ha met with reporters and stated, "The mindset of our generation is different from that of today's players," but added, "Even so, as football players, they should not belittle the aspect of sacrificing for their country. The very fact that they have different thoughts is disappointing and regrettable."

This was a remark targeting the behavior of some players who focused on 'military service exemptions' in several interviews immediately after winning the gold medal in men's football at the previous Asian Games. Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon FC), captain of the Asian Games national team, became controversial for smiling and saying "I won't go to the military" in a post-victory interview. Yang Min-hyuk (Vestelo) also faced criticism for an interview in which he said, "I didn't think the medal or trophy was important. I played only looking at the reward of military exemption." Park Seung-soo also received condemnation after posting a photo wearing a discharge cap on social media (SNS).

As the controversy intensified, they all apologized via SNS, but social anger had already reached its peak. In the political sphere, both ruling and opposition parties voiced calls for improvement of military service exemptions in unison, and the Ministry of National Defense also stated that 'abolishing military service exemptions' is an ultimate goal. Public opinion calling for the abolition of the 'military service exemption' itself associated with Asian Games gold medals is running stronger than ever.

Although they returned home wearing valuable gold medals and should be celebrated, due to the inappropriate behavior of some players, there is an atmosphere where other players are also not being properly congratulated. Kang Min-jun (23), a member of Pohang, was also part of the gold medal team. Manager Park Tae-ha said, "As a national team player, winning a gold medal at the Asian Games itself must be a personal honor. It is noisy, but since they have gained a year and a half of time, I wish for them to work as hard as possible and become even better players."

The next day, FC Seoul manager Kim Ki-dong could not hide his disappointment over the interviews released immediately after the Asian Games gold medal. Manager Kim was also a coach for the national team during the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Hwang Do-yoon and Park Seung-hoon, both belonging to Seoul, participated in the Asian Games side by side, but the atmosphere is such that he cannot simply congratulate his disciples on their gold medals.

Manager Kim Ki-dong said, "I think the Korea Football Association or the coaching staff must have made them aware (of issues related to military service exemptions)," but added, "The light-hearted remarks made by some players became a problem, and even past interviews are being brought up again, causing the story to circulate. It seems the meaning of the gold medal has also faded. As a senior in the football community, it is a disappointing part."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original