Heung-Min Son averts lengthy military service with Asian Games win

Heung-Min Son can now breathe a massive sigh of relief.

The Tottenham forward has avoided up to two years of mandatory military service after South Korea's Under-23 side topped their Japanese counterparts 2-1 on Saturday in the Asian Games final in Indonesia.

Seung-Woo Lee was the hero in the first half of extra-time. The Hellas Verona striker surged into the area, nicking the ball from Son before firing a rising left-footed finish beyond Japan's 'keeper. Hamburg's Hee-Chan Wang made it 2-0 minutes later when he leaped to meet Son's free-kick from near the corner flag, beating his marker before lodging a looping headed effort in the bottom-left corner. Japan narrowed the advantage late in the second period of added-time courtesy of deft header from Ayase Ueda.

Son and a generation of his fellow Taegeuk Warriors have now bypassed lengthy conscription obligations.

South Korea requires compulsory military service for men aged 18-35, with exemptions for athletes who register a podium finish at the Olympics or a Asian Games gold medal.

Son isn't the only South Korean international with Premier League pedigree to risk mandatory military service.

Newcastle United midfielder Sung-Yueng Ki was part of the bronze medal-winning side at the 2012 Olympics in London that had their military service reduced to a month. Former Manchester United standout Park Ji-Sung was granted an exemption for his role in South Korea's surprising semi-final run at the 2002 World Cup.

"It's something we all respect. It's not fair to say we are famous footballers so we don't have to do it," Ki told the Sun in March. "Sonny and I can't just be given special treatment because we're Premier League players."