South Korean players could be ‘punished’ with military service after World Cup

MOSCOW — South Korean World Cup players have received the overwhelming sympathy of the Korean public, with many feeling squad members face being “punished� for failing to reach the second round by being forced to complete military service. Korean law dictates that young men between the ages of 18 and 35 must report for two years of national service, as per the Military Service Act of 1949. There have been many instances of successful athletes being exempted from the requirement – notably Olympic medalists, members of the South Korean World Baseball Classic roster and the 2002 FIFA World Cup team that reached the semifinals. “It is totally unfair,� Korean fan Kim Chul-Seung, a recruiter from Seoul, told USA TODAY Sports in Moscow on Thursday.