Tom Kim is among the 60 golfers competing at the Olympic Games this week; however, the stakes are particularly high for the South Korean athlete, as he must secure a gold medal to evade mandatory military service.
Tom Kim, a beloved figure among PGA Tour fans, is aiming to secure a gold medal at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris in order to bypass mandatory military service in South Korea.
In South Korea, individuals are obligated to complete 21 months of military duty before turning 35. Nevertheless, athletes who achieve gold medal status at the Olympics are granted an exemption from this requirement. At just 22 years old, Kim has the opportunity to accomplish this feat at Le Golf National this week, and he currently finds himself in a favorable position as the competition reaches its midway point.
Kim, who shot a solid five-under-par 66 in the first round on Thursday, followed it up with a three-under 68 on day two, putting him at eight-under and just three shots behind the leader in Paris.
Another South Korean player in the mix is 32-year-old An Byeong-hun, who is also dealing with the possibility of military service. Both players have kept a low profile regarding this issue this week, with Kim briefly mentioning it during his pre-tournament media appearance.
Kim expressed, “The simplest response for us is that our focus this week is on performing well. We are not preoccupied with other matters. Our purpose here is to represent our nation, and I genuinely aspire for both Ben and myself to be present in that stadium, not for personal exemption, but in honor of our country.
“The essence of this experience lies in our pride as South Koreans; we have our commitments, and we accept that. We will give our utmost effort, and I sincerely hope that both he and I will find ourselves on that podium.” This weekend, one competitor Kim is particularly aiming to surpass is Tommy Fleetwood.
Fleetwood finds himself in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard, sharing the spotlight with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and defending champion Xander Schauffele as they head into the final 36 holes. When asked if he could relate to the pressure his Korean competitor is facing this week, the Englishman replied, “Not really, no.
“Of course, I suppose it’s different for us; we don’t grow up thinking about that or anticipating it. So, I can’t really say how Tom feels about it or how others in his position have handled it in the past, and whether they are fully prepared for whatever comes their way.”
It is quite challenging, to be honest. I lack the experience to fully comprehend it. However, I am certain that I cannot fathom the nature of it. Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim, both PGA Tour stars, secured their exemption from military service by winning gold for South Korea in the men’s golf event at the 2023 Asian Games.
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