Two South Korean golfers are aiming to secure exemptions from mandatory military service by winning gold at the Asian Games, where their performance carries significance beyond the competition itself. Kim Joo-hyung, known as Tom Kim on the PGA Tour, and Kim Seong-hyeon, who competes as S.H. Kim, can earn military exemption by capturing gold either in the men’s individual or team golf events.

The Asian Games golf competition is being held at Kasugi Country Club, with the final round scheduled for Thursday. After the first round on Wednesday, Japan leads the men’s team event, followed closely by South Korea and China, trailing by two strokes. In the individual leaderboards, Taiwan’s Wang Wei-hsuan and Japan’s Kazuki Higa share the top spot at five-under-par 65.

South Korea’s team includes Tom Kim, S.H. Kim, and Mun Do-yeob. Unlike his younger teammates, 35-year-old Do-yeob has already completed his 18 to 21 months of military service and is focused on supporting the team’s gold medal pursuit. “I want to play good, so we make our team get a gold medal to make sure they don’t go to the military,” he said, highlighting the high stakes for his teammates.

The competition format involves 72 holes of stroke play over four rounds, with teams of three players each. Only the two best scores per day contribute to the team total. In the first round, Do-yeob led the South Korean team with a 66, followed by Tom Kim’s 67. S.H. Kim recorded a 68, which was excluded from the team tally of 133. Japan posted a team total of 131, with Higa shooting 65 and his teammate Keita Nakajima carding 66.

S.H. Kim expressed the pressure he faces under the circumstances, citing ongoing struggles with knee and back injuries and admitting he is not optimistic about his prospects in the individual competition. He noted that winning team gold might be a more attainable way to secure the exemption.

Do-yeob reflected on his early military service, which he described as a valuable experience despite the limitations it presented for practicing golf. “I was teaching golf and picking up golf balls from the generals’ driving range,” he said, contrasting it with current military assignments, which he suggested do not include similar opportunities.

South Korea requires all able-bodied men to serve in the military unless they qualify for exemptions, with gold medals at major international sporting events such as the Asian Games being one path to avoid conscription. This policy places additional weight on performances at these regional competitions for athletes like Tom Kim and S.H. Kim.