Celtic’s Ki Sung-Yong: Should the South Korea Star Do Military Service?

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: November 10, 2010

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Celtic and South Korea midfielder Ki Sung-Yong is hoping he can avoid doing mandatory military service for his home country by playing at this month's Asian Games. 

Ki, who has won 28 caps for South Korea, must serve at least 18 months in the nation's army before his 29th birthday, or else face exile from the country. 

If the playmaker, who has been likened to Liverpool and England talisman Steven Gerrard, is able to participate in the Games and South Korea wins the gold medal in football, he can avoid doing service. 

Speaking to Scotland's biggest selling tabloid, the Daily Record, he said: "Everyone in Korea must go to the military. Even footballers must do it by the age of 29.

"The Asian Games are on just now and if we win a gold medal we can avoid doing it. But because it's not a FIFA competition Celtic don't have to let me go."

Ki asked his club if he could go to the Games, "but Celtic said no as there are a lot of players injured."

This begs the question, should professional footballers be obliged to do military service? 

Of course, these athletes are fully functional members of society and citizens of the country like all of their compatriots, so it could be said if others have to do service, it's only fair these players have to as well. 

After all, the country and its educational sporting system gave them their talent, fame and success, so why shouldn't the players give something back?

Ajax and ex-Premier League midfielder Teemu Tainio completed his military service, reportedly seeing a move to Manchester United scuppered as a teenager when his father ordered him home from an Old Trafford trial to complete his national service for Finland. 

Former Fulham, Wolves and Reading star Seol Ki-Hyeon (also South Korean) did his military service too, as did Marco Delvecchio, Fabio Galante, Juventus star Aless...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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