Korean Baseball Aims for 5th Straight AG Title with 66.7% of Roster Still Awaiting Military Exemption

Of the 24 Asian Games squad members this year, 16 have not completed military duty

Military service exemption recipients, including Kwak Bin, Noh Sihwan, and Yoon Donghee, play key roles

Victorious athletes enjoy uninterrupted careers with m

There are tournaments that are particularly attractive for athletes, such as the Olympics and the Asian Games. These events offer generous prize money. For male athletes, in particular, they provide an opportunity to extend their athletic careers. Winning gold, silver, or bronze medals at the Olympics, or a gold medal at the Asian Games, grants athletes an exemption from mandatory military service in South Korea.

In team sports, many athletes have not yet fulfilled their military service. At the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which began on September 19, the Korean baseball team's "Gold Ceremony" has drawn attention. Team members form a mountain shape with their hands to resemble the top part of the Chinese character for gold (金). This gesture symbolizes their determination to return home with a gold medal around their necks.

Korean baseball team players are celebrating a gold (금) gesture as Noh Shi-hwan hits a two-run homer in the first inning during the second match of Group B against Hong Kong at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, held on the 22nd at Toyohashi Civic Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Toyohashi=Yonhap News Photo

Out of the 24 players selected for this baseball squad, 16 players—amounting to 66.7%—have not yet completed their military service. The players who are eligible for exemption include Kim Doyoung, So Hyungjun, Kim Youngwoo, Moon Hyunbin, Cho Hyungwoo, Jung Junjae, Bae Chanseung, Lee Jaehyun, Oh Wonseok, Choi Junyong, Kim Jinwook, Sung Youngtak, Park Jaehyun, Choi Minseok, Park Joonsun, and Kim Gunhee.

From the team that won the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, seven athletes received military service exemptions. These athletes are Kwak Bin, who played a pivotal role against Taiwan, as well as Park Younghyun, Noh Shihwan, Moon Bokyung, Kim Jichan, Kim Juwon, and Yoon Donghee—a total of seven. Due to the clause requiring “mandatory participation on national teams if called over the next five years,” these players are also participating in this tournament. Meanwhile, bullpen pitcher Cho Byunghyun has already fulfilled his military duty separately.

The Korean baseball team has been performing strongly so far in this tournament. In the first game of the group stage, they defeated their formidable rival Taiwan 5-0, and in the second game, they secured a 13-0 victory over Hong Kong, ending the match by the seventh inning under the mercy rule. The seven Hangzhou gold medalists are leading from the front, while the 16 players who have not yet completed military service are pushing forward from behind, delivering a string of victories.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.