Choi Si-won slams national soccer team over 'no military service' controversy: "Truly regrettable"

*This content was translated by AI.

After winning gold medals at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, some players faced widespread criticism for stating they would "not go to the military." In this context, Choi Si-won, a member of the group Super Junior and an actor, shared his thoughts on the matter.

On the 5th, Choi Si-won directly commented on a social media post criticizing the actions of national soccer team players.

Choi Si-won stated, "If they had considered the nation and its people, empathized with the dedication of soldiers who are quietly fulfilling their military service obligations even at this very moment, and upheld the dignity and responsibility befitting a national representative, such remarks would not have been so easily made." He added, "It is truly regrettable."

Previously, the national soccer team secured a gold medal by winning the Asian Games soccer final held on the 3rd with a score of 1-0. However, they came under scrutiny due to the remarks and behavior of some players immediately after the match.

Captain Lee Ki-hyuk, in an interview with reporters right after the final, held up the gold medal and said, "I won't go to the military," while smiling. Player Yang Min-hyuk also stated, "Since there is a reward of military service exemption, it seems I played the game looking only at that."

The youngest player, Park Seung-soo, posted a photo on social media wearing a gold medal around his neck and a "No Discharge" hat in the locker room after the match. He later deleted the post as controversy arose.

Public opinion worsened further with the addition of video footage of Choi Woo-jin's celebration. Choi Woo-jin was seen limping on one leg, then taking off his sneakers to reveal a gold medal hidden inside. This sparked criticism online that the act trivialized the recent incident in which a soldier was seriously injured by a North Korean landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the Western Front.

As the controversy unfolded, player Lee Ki-hyuk apologized, saying, "I sincerely want to convey my apologies to everyone fulfilling their military service obligations. I never considered the duty of national defense lightly." Player Yang Min-hyuk also stated, "I had no intention whatsoever of thinking lightly of or mocking the efforts of those who are fulfilling their military service obligations and all those who will have to perform that duty in the future."

Player Park Seung-soo explained, "I never intended to mock those performing their national defense duties or to think lightly of their efforts." Player Choi Woo-jin also bowed his head, stating, "I want to make it clear that the celebration was absolutely not filmed with the intention of evoking events related to military personnel, or to belittle or trivialize them."

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*This content was translated by AI.