South Korea wins gold medal at 2022 Asian Games

South Korea earned the gold medal in the 2022 Asian Games after defeating Chinese Taipei. This victory has major implications for all the players involved.

South Korea finished its participation in the 2022 Asian Games and is taking home the gold. The squad defeated Chinese Taipei and ended the tournament undefeated after not losing a single game.

South Korea’s fate was decided on Thursday when the team defeated China. Playing against Chinese Taipei felt more like a formality after that series.

The final result has real-life implications for the six players in the squad.

Faker receives military exemption

Winning the goal changed the lives of the six players.

According to South Korean civil law, every male over 18 must complete mandatory military service. The time of service may vary depending on different circumstances with a minimum of 18 months.

Athletes who win gold medals representing South Korea will receive a special assignment. Players are now eligible to complete their mandatory service as sports personnel.

As sports personnel, players must complete three weeks of basic training and 544 hours of community service utilizing their skills. While they complete this process, they can continue with their professional careers uninterrupted.

Other high-profile athletes have completed this process. Tottenham Hotspur’s captain Son Heung-min completed his basic training in 2020. Son earned the sports personnel assignment after winning gold in the 2018 Asian Games in football.

The players that will enjoy this benefit are:

• Choi “Zeus” Woo-je (T1)
• Seo “Kanavi” Jin-hyeok (JD Gaming)
• Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon (Gen.G)
• Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok (T1)
• Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk (JD Gaming)
• Ryu “Keria” Min-seok (T1)

Players won’t get the chance to rest for long. All six players are heading to their respective team’s bootcamps as they prepare for Worlds 2023. The event is taking place in South Korea and is set to start on October 9.