South Korean golfer Tom Kim won the men’s individual gold medal at the Asian Games on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The victory secures Kim an exemption from South Korea’s mandatory military service, which generally requires able-bodied men to serve for 18 to 21 months during their 20s.
Kim shot a 6-under 64 in the final round at Kasugai Country Club in Nagoya, Japan, finishing with a four-day total of 18-under 262. He finished three strokes ahead of Japan’s Kazuki Higa, who took silver, and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, who earned bronze. Kim traveled directly to the tournament from the Presidents Cup in Chicago to compete for his home country.
While Kim secured the individual gold, the South Korean team finished with a silver medal, falling behind China, which took the team gold. Because only a gold medal at the Asian Games or any medal at the Olympics triggers a military exemption, Kim's teammate S.H. Kim did not receive one. A third teammate, 35-year-old Mun Do-yeob, had already completed his service.
The scale of the military exemption policy was evidenced across the Asian Games. Beyond golf, 16 South Korean baseball players earned exemptions after defeating Japan 3-1, and three esports players also secured exemptions with gold medals. In total, at least 20 athletes at these games have been reported as receiving the benefit. For these individuals, the change represents the removal of a legal obligation that would otherwise require them to leave their professional occupations for military training.
The policy has faced recent scrutiny within South Korea. The news agency Yonhap recently characterized the system as outdated, citing changing public expectations regarding fairness and conscription. While the exemptions for these specific athletes are now secured by their gold-medal performances, the broader policy remains a subject of domestic debate. Kim stated the pressure of the week would serve as a "stepping stone" for his upcoming professional seasons. He is expected to return to the PGA Tour following the conclusion of the games.