Lee Kang-in receives reduction in South Korea military service following Asian Games success

Lee Kang-in plays for Ligue 1 club PSG

Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in South Korean military duty is no longer required to be as long as before.

Lee Kang-in and his colleagues' mandatory military duty will be lowered from an initial commitment of 18 months to 3 weeks as a result of their Asian Games victory.

The South Korean football team won the gold medal at the Asian Games with a 2-1 victory, eliminating the need for the men to serve 18 months in the military.

South Korea's next goal is the Paris Olympics as they attempt to obtain one of the three qualifying spots offered in the under-23 Asian Cup.

After winning the Asian Games gold on Saturday and receiving a military waiver, Paris Saint-Germain player Lee Kang-in has an "obligation" to advance South Korean football, according to coach Hwang Sun-hong.

With a brilliant effort in his team's 2-1 victory over Japan in Hangzhou, Lee assisted South Korea in winning the championship for the third consecutive year.

The government exempts Asian Games gold medalists and Olympic medalists of any colour from performing at least 18 months of military service, but nearly every South Korean male is compelled to do so.

Lee continues the legacy of Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-min, who took home the gold in Jakarta in 2018.

Coach Hwang expressed optimism for Lee's future and described the exemption as "very different from playing football".

Lee, who transferred to PSG from Mallorca in the summer, came late in Hangzhou and had seen little action en route to the championship.

Despite starting the 22-year-old against Japan, South Korea fell behind after less than two minutes.