The value of an Asian Games gold medal is beyond imagination. It has an astronomical value.
South Korea’s Asian Games team, led by coach Hwang Sun-hong, won the gold medal in the men’s soccer final at the Hangzhou Asian Games after beating Japan, their “eternal rival,” in the final. It was the first time South Korea had ever won three consecutive titles, following Incheon in 2014 and Jakarta-Palembang in 2018. South Korean soccer has made a name for itself.
One of the main concerns of the tournament was military service benefits for players. Asian Games gold medalists are entitled to military service (arts and physical education). As a result, 20 of the 22 members of the ‘Hwangsun Hong Ho’ will receive military service, excluding Kim Jung-hoon (Jeonbuk Hyundai), who has already completed his military service, and Lee Kwang-yeon (Gangwon FC), who was exempted due to a knee injury. In particular, Cho Young-wook, who is currently serving with Gimcheon Commerce, will be discharged early.
After winning the gold medal and receiving military benefits, the athletes’ careers were given a boost. An official said, “The value of athletes changes just by resolving military issues. For example, one of the checks for foreign transfers is whether there is a military service issue. This is because many clubs are concerned about a player’s future value.”
This was the case with Son Heung-min (Tottenham) five years ago, when his military service was the center of attention. Heung-min had become one of the best strikers in the English Premier League (EPL), but his military service was a challenge. He was born in July 1992, and time was running out. He was less than a year away from reaching the age of 27 when he could defer his military service for the last time. This could have cut short his athletic career. Son captained South Korea to victory at the Jakarta-Palembang Games. He received military service benefits. He was able to continue his career in Europe. He became the first Asian player to win the EPL scoring title. Today, he leads the Tottenham team as captain. Other players who won gold medals at the time, such as Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), continue to play in Europe.
The squad features a number of overseas players, including Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Jung Woo-young (Stuttgart), Hong Hyun-seok (Gent), Park Kyu-hyun (Dynamo Dresden), Lee Han-beom (Mittwilan) and Kim Tae-hyun (Vegalta Sendai). Their Asian Games gold medals have allowed them to continue their careers overseas. Lee Kang-in, in particular, joined the prestigious Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) last summer. PSG was thinking big when they signed Lee, and his military service benefits are a welcome addition.
It’s not just overseas players who are being paid for their military service. It’s not just overseas players who are getting paid more. Some say it could speed up the European transfer clock. In fact, Ko Young-jun (Pohang Steelers) has been 먹튀검증 receiving interest from multiple European clubs. Cho Young-wook has also been rumored to move to Europe. Players who have played in Europe before, such as Baek Seung-ho (Jeonbuk) and Lee Jae-ik (Seoul Eland), may be looking for a second chance. The price tag for the members of Hangzhou’s championship-winning squad is only going to get higher.