English Translation:
Tottenham Hotspur's attacker Heung-Min Son became one of the leaders of the team this season, but due to the laws in South Korea, the footballer may have to pause his career and serve in the country's military.
According to South Korean laws, all men between 18 and 35 years old must serve their country for two years. While exceptions are usually made for those with disabilities or mental illnesses, athletes have the opportunity to avoid the two-year service. However, to receive a special exemption, H-M. Son faces a difficult task: athletes do not need to serve if they win gold medals at the Olympic Games or Asian Games.
However, South Korea has made a special exemption for footballers before: in the 2002 World Cup, the national team, which finished fourth, including then-Manchester United midfielder Ji-Sung Park, was exempted from compulsory service.
To avoid career interruption, H-M Son and his teammates will have to perform well in one of the tournaments taking place this summer. The South Korean team will participate in both world championships and Asian Games, which means the footballer may miss the start of the next Premier League season.
This season, the Asian representative scored 18 goals and had 9 assists in 44 matches, ranking second in the team for performance. Tottenham Hotspur would feel the loss starting the next season without their attacker, but the club is reportedly willing to support Son if he expresses his desire to compete in the Asian Games to avoid two years of compulsory service in his country.
