To avoid military service in his home country, South Korean Tom Kim needed to win a medal at the Paris Olympics. The 22-year-old, however, finished eighth, four shots off the podium.
At the end of her final round at Le National Golf Club, Kim was crying her eyes out in the officials’ dugout. Television cameras caught the footage when the 24e world-ranked player had his scorecard validated.
All men between the ages of 18 and 35 who are fit to fight are required to enlist in the South Korean military for a period of 18 to 21 months. Winning an Olympic medal or the gold medal at the Asian Games are the only exceptions to this rule.
For example, Sungjae Im, the 2023 Asian Games champion, is exempt.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Sungjae Im and Tom Kim
But on Tuesday, two days before the start of the Presidents Cup at the Royal Montreal Golf Club, Kim’s mood and tone changed when a representative from The Press alluded to the golfer’s patriotic duty. The idea was to find out if he had made peace with the idea that he would eventually have to put his sporting career on hold.
I was proud to be able to represent my country. There were a lot of emotions, but it was mainly because I was unable to win a medal for my country.
Tom Kim
His story is reminiscent of that of Sangmoon Bae, a young Korean phenomenon on the rise who was forced to return home to serve in the army in 2015. He was 28 at the time. And even though he returned to golf after his time in the Korean forces ended, he was never more than a shadow of his former self.
No one is younger than Kim among the top 25 players in the world rankings. Although he broke through relatively early on the PGA Tour, at 20, he was keen to point out how winding the road has been. The Korean played five seasons as a professional before reaching the world’s most prestigious circuit.
“When you haven’t reached the PGA yet, it’s impossible to give up,” he said of his desire to play on the American circuit.
However, he will probably have to give up his dream career for at least two seasons if he does not stand on the podium at the Los Angeles Games in four years. A career that has allowed him, so far, to win three titles, take second place at the British Open in 2023 and pocket nearly $15 million.
The Korean delegation
Byeong Hun An is another Korean golfer who will soon have to comply with military requirements. At 33, the hourglass is ticking to 34e world player, the last golfer automatically qualified to take part in the Montreal competition.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Byeong Hun An
In the meantime, his mission also has everything to do with the sense of pride he cultivates for his homeland. As in 2022, 4 of the 12 members of the international team are Korean.
Two years ago, An, Kim, Im and Si-Woo Kim walked the aisles of the Quail Hollow club in North Carolina.
This year, no nation on the international team is better represented in the Quebec metropolis. Not only are players born in South Korea more numerous on the PGA Tour, but they are also more talented.
“It’s simply because there are more and more people playing [au golf]An said. I wouldn’t be surprised if more and more players come to America to play on the PGA Tour. It’s harder than you think because of cultural differences, like language. But young people are learning English earlier and more easily, so you have to expect a lot of them.”
Kim agrees: “We are a small country. It’s huge for us to have four representatives from Korea this year. I think, humbly, that we are doing a good job of promoting golf there.”
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
“I was proud to be able to represent my country. There were a lot of emotions, but it was mostly because I was unable to win a medal for my country,” said Tom Kim.
Models
No Koreans participated in the first four editions of the tournament from 1994 to 2000. Between 2003 and 2009, there was only one. As in 2015 and 2017. The only exception was the 2011 classic, when Yong-eun, KJ Choi and Kim Kyung-tae were part of the international brigade.
Only one Korean has ever won a major tournament. Yang Yong-eun, at the PGA Championship in 2009. He was ahead of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in the rankings.
South Korea, however, has several champions on the women’s tour. Inbee Park, with seven majors, Se Ri Pak, with five, and Chun In-gee, with three, top the list.
“Growing up, there weren’t a lot of Asian stars in the golf world. I honestly think we can inspire a new generation of golfers,” Kim added. “America and big occasions like this [la Coupe des Présidents] are so far from what we know. Something is really happening with Korean golf.”
One thing is for sure: “We love golf in Korea,” confirms An, smiling and pumping his fist in the air.