It's Already Heating Up...Who Will Wear the Korean Flag at the Asian Games?

Kim Seonghyun to Return from U.S. Next Month Due to Military Service

Competition for Selection at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

National Team Spots Granted to Top 3 in World Rankings

Recently, Kim Seonghyun has attracted attention from the U.S. media. Golf Channel, a leading American golf media outlet, reported, "Kim Seonghyun is required to fulfill his military duty in Korea," adding, "Even if Kim Seonghyun qualifies for the Masters, he will still have to return to Korea."

Kim Seonghyun was born in September 1998 and is currently 27 years old. He has not yet completed his mandatory military service. Earlier this year, he received a 90-day overseas stay extension from the Military Manpower Administration. He must return to Korea after competing in the Valero Texas Open in early April. Due to his military obligations, he will have to temporarily leave the U.S. tour.

There is one way for Kim Seonghyun to resolve all these issues: by winning a gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games this fall. While the Olympics grant military exemptions for gold, silver, and bronze medalists, the Asian Games provide the exemption only to gold medalists.

PGA Tour player Kim Seonghyun, who has not completed his military service, must suspend his activities and return to Korea early next month. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will open on September 19 and close on October 4. There are four gold medals up for grabs in golf: men's and women's individual and team events. Each country can field three players per event. In previous tournaments, four men and three women competed. Both professional and amateur athletes are eligible to participate this year. Korea has won a total of 14 gold medals in Asian Games golf history—six in men's events and eight in women's events.

At the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, Korea won gold in the men's team event. Professional golfers Im Sungjae and Kim Siwoo, along with then-amateurs Jang Yoobin and Cho Wooyoung, represented Korea and earned the gold medal. It was the first men's team golf gold in 13 years since the 2010 Guangzhou Games. The men's and women's golf events at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will take place during the latter part of the competition, with medal colors decided between September 30 and October 3.

For the men's golf event at this year's Asian Games, priority will be given to the highest-ranked players in the world rankings as of a yet-to-be-announced date. The top 15 players in the world rankings on the designated date will form the primary candidate pool. Among these, three players who wish to participate will be selected as national team representatives for the Asian Games.

The Korea Golf Association (KGA), which selects the national team for the Asian Games, has not yet finalized the selection date. For the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, the April world rankings were used as the standard. This year, the timeline is expected to be slightly delayed, with May being the likely reference point for world rankings.

If Kim Juhyung maintains his current world ranking, he can represent Korea at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games wearing the Taegukgi. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Based on the current world rankings, Kim Siwoo (29th), Im Sungjae (67th), and Kim Juhyung (123rd) would represent Korea. Kim Siwoo and Im Sungjae, together with Jang Yoobin and Cho Wooyoung, won the gold medal in the men's team event at the Hangzhou Asian Games and received military service benefits. Following those three in the rankings are An Byeonghun, who moved to LIV Golf (129th), and Kim Seonghyun (138th).

Fierce competition for world ranking points is expected over the next two months. Kim Juhyung started the year at 107th but has dropped 16 places. Fortunately, by finishing tied for 18th at the PGA Tour Valspar Championship held at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Florida, United States, on March 22, he climbed four spots in the rankings.

Kim Seonghyun, who was relegated to the Korn Ferry (second division) Tour last year, has returned to the PGA Tour this season. He achieved his best finish so far this season by tying for sixth at the Valspar Championship, raising his world ranking from 157th to 138th. Upon returning to Korea next month, he is expected to compete on the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Tour to accumulate additional ranking points.

If Kim Seonghyun maintains his current ranking, he will only have a chance to participate in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games if two of the four higher-ranked players opt out. Kim Siwoo, Im Sungjae, and An Byeonghun have already resolved their military service obligations.

From the left, Jang Yoobin, Cho Wooyoung, Im Sungjae, and Kim Siwoo are cheering on the podium after winning the gold medal in the team event at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.