Tom Kim’s Asian Games Gold: How One Golf Medal Saved Him From South Korea’s Military Service

Tom Kim won Asian Games gold in Japan on Saturday, earning an exemption from South Korea’s mandatory military service and removing a major interruption that had been hanging over his golf career.

The 24-year-old shot a six-under 64 in the final round to finish at 18-under and win by three strokes. He started the day with the lead and held on despite a late bogey on the 17th.

How Tom Kim secured his military exemption

South Korean men generally have to complete 18 to 21 months of military service before turning 28. Asian Games gold medalists and Olympic medalists are exempt, though they must still complete basic military training.

That makes Kim’s win about more than a trophy. He can keep competing professionally instead of stepping away from the sport for an extended period, and the timing could hardly be better. He has already won four PGA Tour titles and bounced back in 2026 after two difficult seasons.

Tom Kim’s unusual journey to the Asian Games

Kim reached Japan after a draining stretch that began at the Presidents Cup in the United States, where he went 4-1 for the international team. He then flew from Chicago to Japan, dealing with a 14-hour time difference and reportedly getting only about six hours of sleep.

Even so, he played his best golf when it mattered most. His final-round 64 included five birdies and an eagle before the bogey on 17. He still had enough of a cushion to make par on the last hole and secure the gold.

Why the exemption matters to Tom Kim’s career

Kim has only recently rebuilt his career. By 23, he had won three PGA Tour titles and six other international events and was seen as one of golf’s brightest young stars.

His form then slipped in 2024 and 2025. He fell outside the world’s top 100 and lost his full PGA Tour exemption.

This year has been a turnaround. He finished third at the U.S. Open, won the Scottish Open in July for his fourth PGA Tour title, and qualified for the Tour Championship. The Asian Games gold means he can build on that run without a long break.

Tom Kim previously missed out on an Olympic exemption

The Asian Games were one of Kim’s remaining chances to secure the exemption. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, he was tied for third after the opening round but finished eighth and missed out on a medal.

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics would have offered another shot, but with South Korean men generally required to enlist by 28, the timeline was getting tight. His win in Japan means he no longer has to count on another major tournament.

What happens next for Tom Kim?

With the military-service question largely settled, Kim can turn his full attention back to golf. His Scottish Open win, U.S. Open finish and strong Presidents Cup were followed by this Asian Games triumph, and he looks to be entering an important stretch.

For Kim, the gold is more than another title. It removes a potential 18-to-21-month interruption just as he is trying to establish himself among the game’s leading players.

Other South Korean athletes, including former Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min, have earned the exemption through international success. Golfers such as Sangmoon Bae and Seung-yul Noh, by contrast, had to return to the tour after completing their service.