'Korean Ronaldo' may interrupt career due to military service

Son Heung-min, the 24-year-old who is shining at Tottenham, will have to serve nearly two years in the South Korean military before the age of 28, unless he is exempted if he achieves high results with the national team.

Son Heung-min is known by his home fans as the Korean Cristiano Ronaldo, nicknamed “Sonaldo” from his time with Leverkusen in Germany.

Son has been in impressive form at the start of the season, contributing greatly to Tottenham's achievements. The winger has scored four goals in just three Premier League appearances, after being persuaded to stay at White Hart Lane at the end of the summer transfer window. On September 17, Son also scored a goal in a 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow, helping Tottenham finish second in Group E of the Champions League after two matches.

Son Heung-min has five goals in five appearances for Tottenham this season.

In total, Son has scored five goals in five appearances in two major competitions since the start of the season. But his football career may be hampered at its peak, due to the harsh compulsory military service laws in his home country.

Before the age of 28, Son will have to serve in the military for a maximum of 21 months, unless he is exempted under special regulations.He would then be forced to sacrifice his multi-million dollar playing contract to do military service, with the maximum pay being only about $168 per month for the rank of sergeant.

South Korea has one of the harshest military service laws in the world. Young men of military age have the right to choose when to serve, but they cannot avoid it, because the law excludes everyone, including public figures or people with high social status in Korea. Many top Korean actors, singers and celebrities have also agreed to serve in the military for a period of time, rather than risk jail time for trying to avoid it.

Famous rapper MC Mong was accused of deliberately delaying his military service by pulling out his teeth. He was later sentenced to six months of probation and one year of community service. Singer Yoo Seung Jun became a naturalized American citizen to avoid military service and was deported from South Korea.

But South Korean players can be exempted from military service if they contribute significantly to the national football team's success.Then they will be recognized as young men who fought excellently for the country.

South Korea's military service law applies to all young men in the country, and Son is no exception. Photo: AP.

Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-yueng missed the final Premier League game of last season to begin four weeks of military service, a period he had largely reduced by helping South Korea win a bronze medal in men's football at the 2012 London Olympics.

Former Man Utd star Park Ji-sung and ex-Tottenham player Lee Young-pyo were both exempted from military service after helping South Korea reach the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup.

A gold medal in men's football at the Asian Games (Asiad), or an Asian Cup championship, is also an achievement recognized for exemption from military service. Son scored the equalizer in the last minute of the 2014 Asian Cup final, but Korea then lost to Australia in extra time. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Korea was eliminated in the quarterfinals. Son therefore only has a chance at the 2018 Asian Games (Asiad) and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Son could also find a way around the law, but doing so would risk public criticism and a career that has been severely damaged, as have some celebrities. Park Chu-young, who joined Arsenal in 2011 at the age of 26, applied for a ten-year residency in Monaco in 2012, with the aim of postponing his military service. He later won bronze with South Korea at the 2012 London Olympics and was granted an exemption, but his reputation has since been tarnished in his home country.

Military service evaders like Park Chu-young have become a thorn in the eye of the Korean public. Photo: AFP.

Son's career may also not be interrupted at its peak, if there is a political change.Politician Nam Kyung-pil recently announced that he will adopt a voluntary military policy if elected president of South Korea.

Son Heung-min came through the youth ranks at Hamburg, Germany, making his Bundesliga debut in 2010. He moved to Leverkusen in 2013. Two years later, he joined Tottenham for $28.5 million, making him the most expensive Asian player in football history. He made his senior international debut in 2010, and represented South Korea at the 2014 World Cup.

Son's achievements at clubs:

2010-13: Hamburg (73 games, 20 goals)

2013-15: Leverkusen (78 games, 26 goals)

2015 to present: Tottenham (45 games, 13 goals)

According to VNE