Super Junior member Choi Si-won. [Herald POP (now Herald Muse)]
Super Junior member Choi Si-won. [Herald POP (now Herald Muse)]

Actor and singer Choi Si-won, 40, has sent a pointed message to the South Korean national football team, whose remarks about military service benefits after winning gold at the Asian Games drew widespread criticism.

On Monday, Choi shared a video of Son Heung-min's post-match interview from the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games on his Instagram.

In the clip, Son spoke after South Korea's gold-medal victory over Japan in the final, saying, "So many people worried and cheered for us as if it were their own concern" and "We won the gold medal thanks to the people. I'm wearing it right now, but this is not my medal — it belongs to the people." Rather than boasting about the benefits that came with the win, Son credited the glory to the nation.

Sharing the video, Choi wrote a brief caption: "This is how you do a winner's interview."

The comments came after members of this year's Asian Games squad sparked controversy with remarks about military service benefits following their gold-medal win.

Forward Yang Min-hyeok said in a post-match interview that he had played with an eye on the military service benefit rather than the medal or trophy itself. Captain Lee Gi-hyeok, who was due to enlist, expressed his joy by saying, "I'm not going to the army." Defender Park Seung-su drew fire after posting a photo on social media of himself wearing what is known as a "discharge cap" in the locker room.

While the players were being candid about their joy — and their relief at shedding the burden of mandatory service — some critics say the remarks were careless and could leave young men who must still fulfill their military duty feeling a sense of deprivation.

The benefit Asian Games gold medalists receive is not a full military exemption in the conventional sense. They must complete basic military training before being assigned as arts and sports personnel, serving in their respective fields for 34 months while also fulfilling a set number of community service hours.


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