Korean player is required to do two years of military service for failing to reach the round of 16 at the World Cup

In South Korea, military service is mandatory and must be done before the age of 28. Despite this, the country’s authorities promised the players on the team that went to Russia that, if they qualified the country for the round of 16, they would make an exception and the players would be free of the obligation.

Check below for more details about this story that shows how defeat can also be a ‘goodbye’ to football.

Korean midfielder Son Heung-Min lived the game against Germany with more passion than a final: if South Korea beat Germany and Mexico beat Sweden, he wouldn’t have to do military service.

This happened because, as previously mentioned, military service in the country is mandatory, but the authorities in the country usually eliminate this requirement for successful athletes🇧🇷 Olympic athletes who win medals, for example, are also left out.

The player’s goal was to reach the round of 16, and the South Korean team did its part: beat the current world champions, Germany, by 2-0🇧🇷 But Sweden won against Mexico, and Son Heung-Min’s dream was completely shattered.

At the end of the game, all cameras turned to the crying player in complete disbelief. In addition to doing military service, his career as a football player was put in check, after all, the service would cost the contract with the Tottenham, England.

The hope that remains for the Korean player is that the excellent performance in the German game will be considered a sporting triumph. That is, despite not passing to the round of 16, the good individual performance is considered enough for him not to have to do military service and continue playing professional football.

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