Lee Gi-hyuk apologises after Asian Games gold medal celebration

South Korea captain Lee Gi-hyuk issued an apology for his comments following the team's gold medal victory at the Asian Games, where they defeated Japan 1-0 in the final. After the match, Lee celebrated and claimed he was "not going to the military," referencing the exemption from mandatory military service granted to gold medal winners. He later expressed regret in a social media post, acknowledging the feelings of fans currently serving their military duty and reflecting on his words. South Korean male athletes typically must serve between 18 to 21 months unless they receive an exemption through significant athletic achievements.

• 6:43 AMYahoo Sports — Captain apologises for gloating over military service exemption
• 6:43 AMBBC Sport — Captain apologises for gloating over military service exemption