Park Seung-su of the under-23 men's football national team, who posted a photo on social media wearing a military discharge cap that had been inside the team's quarters during the tournament, shortly after winning gold at the Asian Games. [Park Seung-su's SNS]
Park Seung-su of the under-23 men's football national team, who posted a photo on social media wearing a military discharge cap that had been inside the team's quarters during the tournament, shortly after winning gold at the Asian Games. [Park Seung-su's SNS]

Park Seung-su (Newcastle), who sparked controversy by posting a photo of himself wearing a military discharge cap after winning gold in men's football at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, has apologized. He said he does not take military service lightly and has never once taken the meaning of representing South Korea for granted.

Park posted a message on his Instagram on Sunday saying he wanted to apologize to fans over the photo he uploaded to social media right after the final. "I am truly sorry to anyone who felt uncomfortable by my actions," he said.

He explained that a fan at the venue had handed him the cap immediately after the match ended. "The joy and overwhelming emotion of winning gold as the result of all the preparation and effort I had put in was so great that, in that moment, I took the photo and posted it without thinking deeply about the meaning of the cap," he said.

Park said he had no intention of mocking those fulfilling their military service obligations or of treating their efforts lightly. "I have also never, not even once, taken the meaning of wearing the national team badge lightly," he added.

He also said he was well aware that the opportunity and benefits that came with the gold medal were not something to be taken for granted. "I will show a more responsible side of myself going forward, so that I can live up to the support and expectations of the public," he said.

Park had posted the photo on his social media from the locker room on Saturday, after South Korea defeated Japan 1-0 in the final to claim the gold medal. The photo drew criticism as inappropriate given the feelings of those currently serving in the military or those who had already completed their mandatory service.

People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo. [Lee Sang-sub]
People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo. [Lee Sang-sub]

People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo also weighed in on Sunday, posting on social media to criticize the conduct of Park and some other members of the national team and calling for a reconsideration of the Asian Games military service exemption system. "Is the military a facility to be despised?" he wrote.

"One player wore a military discharge cap and took a commemorative photo in the locker room," Ahn said. "Even the team captain bragged in an official interview that he wouldn't have to go to the military, openly mocking it. Is the military somewhere to be despised? Somewhere people can't go? Are the countless young men who enlist every year all fools? It is deeply disheartening that players wearing the national badge have this level of awareness," he said.

Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yu Seung-min said the committee had provided considerable education on interview skills and conduct through character training, but that it was difficult to control every player's remarks. "These are remarks that do not align with public sentiment. We will look into ways to ensure national team athletes express themselves with greater dignity," he said.


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com