A gold medal is meant to be a celebration. For Yang Min-hyeok, it turned into an apology. The 20-year-old Tottenham Hotspur winger, currently on loan at Belgian club Westerlo, has said sorry after remarks about South Korea's Asian Games win drew a backlash at home.
What he said
South Korea beat Japan in the Asian Games final on Saturday, with Yang setting up the winning goal for Swansea City's Eom Jisung. Afterwards Yang said: "We were being compensated, and the compensation was military exemption, so it feels like we played with that one thing in mind. Honestly, whether it was a trophy or a medal wasn't important."
Why it landed badly
In South Korea, able-bodied men must complete 18 to 21 months of military service before the age of 28. Gold medallists at the Asian Games receive an exemption after completing basic training only, and Olympic medallists qualify too. Son Heung-min, the former Spurs captain, used the same route in 2018. The exemption is a sensitive subject, so a player describing it as the real reward was always likely to cause a stir.
The apology
Yang responded with a statement: "I am sincerely sorry for causing disappointment and discomfort to so many people with my remarks regarding the Asian Games." That is a short, direct apology, and it avoids excuses.
The result itself deserves to stay in view. South Korea have now won gold at the last four Asian Games, a streak that began in 2014 with a 1-0 win over North Korea sealed by Rim Chang-woo's goal in the 121st minute. Yang's remark may have been honest about the incentives, but it is the sort of honesty that works better in private. Whatever he meant, this will follow him for a while.
Background: Yang Min-hyeok, 20, is a Tottenham Hotspur player on loan at Westerlo. South Korea beat Japan in the Asian Games final; Eom Jisung scored. Source: Goal.com, 5 October 2026. Photo is from March 2025.
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