Golfer Bae Sang-Moon in the army now

[Silent]

Quote:

South Korean golfer Bae Sang-Moon, who has won twice on the PGA Tour, is to return home to complete his military service after losing a legal battle to defer his conscription.

The 29-year-old, who was granted US residency in 2013, was charged in February with violating South Korea's military service regulations after failing to secure an extension to his overseas travel permit.

Bae was allowed to stay in the United States while his lawsuit against that decision was pending but a court in his home city of Daegu backed the Military Manpower Administration (MMA), Yonhap news agency reported.

Bae, who was contesting the MMA's assertion that he had not spent enough time out of South Korea in 2014 to qualify as an overseas resident, said he would join the army soon.

"I completely respect the court's decision, and I humbly accept the judgment by the law," he told Yonhap.

"I am sorry to those who have supported me, including all my fans and South Koreans, for causing anxiety."

With the country still technically at war with the North after the 1950-53 Korean War, all South Korean men between 18 and 35 must complete two years of military service.

The court had ruled that his refusal to sign up with the military ran "counter to the principle of fairness" in regard to other conscripts.

Most in the South agree conscription is necessary to deter North Korean aggression and the public backlash towards high-profile figures such as actors, musicians and sportsmen who seek to skip military service can be fierce.

Bae secured his second PGA title at the Frys.com Open in Napa, California last October and has secured exemption for 2016 after winning $2,047,187 so far in the 2015 season.

Bae, who will earn around $130 a month as a private in the army, took home $15,209 from his last outing on the PGA Tour after tying for 54th at the Greenbrier Classic earlier this month.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/golf/2015/0722/716382-south-korean-golfer-bae-sang-moon/

[RJH999]

Yeah, that's a huge bummer.

[Rick Martin]

Our country has been at war for awhile....We should have compulsory sevvice as well.

[nevets88]

I thought it was only a year, but it's two. I would think it'll be hard, but doable to come back after a year. But two, not so sure. Maybe doable? Hope there are courses near where he'll be based.

[rkim291968]

We should have compulsory sevvice as well.

Nope!

As for Bae, I feel sorry that he is getting hit with this at height of his career but he had plenty of opportunity to meet the requirement before it got to this point.

[MrDC]

That blows, he has to be really depressed, being a resident should be enough to let him off the hook, they have plenty of other people to do the job, are they at war? seems silly.

[bubble]

we used to have it in France nevertheless army has become fully professional since about 20 years now.

I'm glad in a way since these kind of stories dont happen anymore nevertheless people are much less respectful of the nation and have a poorer global education and respect of authority.

[Rick Martin]

You are exactly right.

[kpaulhus]

That blows, he has to be really depressed, being a resident should be enough to let him off the hook, they have plenty of other people to do the job, are they at war? seems silly.

Yeah, they've been fighting north korea for like 60 years.

Sucks, but he could've done it sooner in life.

Also, makes me more proud to be an American....though we did have a draft at one point.

[SavvySwede]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Martin

We should have compulsory sevvice as well.

Nope!

As for Bae, I feel sorry that he is getting hit with this at height of his career but he had plenty of opportunity to meet the requirement before it got to this point.

Yeah, they've been fighting north korea for like 60 years.

Sucks, but he could've done it sooner in life.

Also, makes me more proud to be an American....though we did have a draft at one point.

I don't really agree with this sentiment. Taking two years off early in his career could have hurt his game much more. He has two titles to his name and will come out of this knowing he has what it takes to make it on the tour. Had he gone when he was younger the return to pro golf could've been much tougher mentally.

[rkim291968]

I don't really agree with this sentiment. Taking two years off early in his career could have hurt his game much more. He has two titles to his name and will come out of this knowing he has what it takes to make it on the tour. Had he gone when he was younger the return to pro golf could've been much tougher mentally.

Unfortunately for the Korean male athletics, this is something all of them must go through.   BTW, Olympic medalists are permitted to skip this requirement.   One would argue that Bae's accomplishment in golf is better than a bronze medalist in some obscure sport.  Too bad for Bae that golf wasn't an Olympic event before.    Beyond Bae, many young Korean male athletics career are cut short b/c of this requirement.  The top ones delay going to military as long as they could, Bae being no exception.

[Yukari]

So when does his military obligation start? He was my second choice pick for the PGA championship contest.

[Rick Martin]

Unfortunately for the Korean male athletics, this is something all of them must go through.   BTW, Olympic medalists are permitted to skip this requirement.   One would argue that Bae's accomplishment in golf is better than a bronze medalist in some obscure sport.  Too bad for Bae that golf wasn't an Olympic event before.    Beyond Bae, many young Korean male athletics career are cut short b/c of this requirement.  The top ones delay going to military as long as they could, Bae being no exception.

[quote name="Yukari" url="/t/83386/golfer-bae-sang-moon-in-the-army-now#post_1174053"]So when does his military obligation start? He was my second choice pick for the PGA championship contest.[/quote] starts after this season - source of taxes lost since this guy was bound to make a bundle in his prime...too bad for that, but show great thing about S. Korea that wealth doesn't get you special treatment (clown Trump, GWB).

[boogielicious]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rkim291968

Unfortunately for the Korean male athletics, this is something all of them must go through.   BTW, Olympic medalists are permitted to skip this requirement.   One would argue that Bae's accomplishment in golf is better than a bronze medalist in some obscure sport.  Too bad for Bae that golf wasn't an Olympic event before.    Beyond Bae, many young Korean male athletics career are cut short b/c of this requirement.  The top ones delay going to military as long as they could, Bae being no exception.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yukari

So when does his military obligation start?

He was my second choice pick for the PGA championship contest.

Rick, you cannot type inside the quote box. It is a malformed post. I am not deleting it as a reminder to you and others.

[Rick Martin]

I'm sure Bae will take KJ Choi'S success after military service as a positive to keep him motivated.

[turtleback]

I guess that I don't see what is so special about him, as compared to all the other Korean males who have to serve.  And I'm not going to challenge or criticize Korea for doing what it thinks it needs to do for national security and survival.

As to taking 2 years off?  A lot of guys did that and there was still golf, and a bunch of those that served did pretty well afterwards, after WW2.  So I think the kid should be able to overcome this, although the competition is so much tougher now.  I hope so.

It is personally unfortunate for Bae, but no more so than any of his fellow countrymen who have THEIR lives interrupted by this.  There are things bigger than golf.

[Vinsk]

I guess that I don't see what is so special about him, as compared to all the other Korean males who have to serve.  And I'm not going to challenge or criticize Korea for doing what it thinks it needs to do for national security and survival. As to taking 2 years off?  A lot of guys did that and there was still golf, and a bunch of those that served did pretty well afterwards, after WW2.  So I think the kid should be able to overcome this, although the competition is so much tougher now.  I hope so. It is personally unfortunate for Bae, but no more so than any of his fellow countrymen who have THEIR lives interrupted by this.  There are things bigger than golf.

Rather insensitive to the nice young man. Everybody is special in some way. You don't know his personal life and him getting recognition doesn't take away from his countrymen. Try to be a little more kind in your judgements. This would be a hard thing for any one and each person deserves the empathy of such.

[David in FL]

Rather insensitive to the nice young man. Everybody is special in some way. You don't know his personal life and him getting recognition doesn't take away from his countrymen. Try to be a little more kind in your judgements. This would be a hard thing for any one and each person deserves the empathy of such.

I imagine that by "special", @turtleback meant not deserving of treatment differing from every other man his age. Not insensitive at all. In fact, accurate and an opinion with which I agree.