Celtic's Ki Sung-Yong: Should the South Korea Star Do Military Service?

Celtic and South Korea midfielder Ki Sung-Yong is hoping he can avoid doing mandatory military service for his home country by playing at this month's Asian Games. 

Ki, who has won 28 caps for South Korea, must serve at least 18 months in the nation's army before his 29th birthday, or else face exile from the country. 

If the playmaker, who has been likened to Liverpool and England talisman Steven Gerrard, is able to participate in the Games and South Korea wins the gold medal in football, he can avoid doing service. 

Speaking to Scotland's biggest selling tabloid, the Daily Record, he said: "Everyone in Korea must go to the military. Even footballers must do it by the age of 29.

"The Asian Games

 are on just now and if we win a gold medal we can avoid doing it. But because it's not a FIFA competition Celtic don't have to let me go."

Ki asked his club if he could go to the Games, "but Celtic said no as there are a lot of players injured."

This begs the question, should professional footballers be obliged to do military service? 

Of course, these athletes are fully functional members of society and citizens of the country like all of their compatriots, so it could be said if others have to do service, it's only fair these players have to as well. 

After all, the country and its educational sporting system gave them their talent, fame and success, so why shouldn't the players give something back?

Ajax and ex-Premier League midfielder Teemu Tainio completed his military service, reportedly seeing a move to Manchester United scuppered as a teenager when his father ordered him home from an Old Trafford trial to complete his national service for Finland. 

Former Fulham, Wolves and Reading star Seol Ki-Hyeon (also South Korean) did his military service too, as did Marco Delvecchio, Fabio Galante, Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero and World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro before conscription was phased out in Italy. 

However, it can be argued that these professionals shouldn't have to serve time with their country's military, considering they have a special talent very few people in their nation possess. To waste time serving in the army could very easily see that talent diminish significantly, quite possibly ruining the player's club and/or international career. 

As has been very well documented, footballers' professional careers don't last long (20-25 years at best) compared to that of doctors, engineers, etc., so surely it would be unjust if they weren't allowed to make the most of the short time they have in employment.

Also, these stars are already of use to the country in serving the national football team and helping them to international success.

Because as some may know, national sporting success leads to a greater "feel-good factor" within the country, and has thus been proven to increase that nation's overall productivity and boost its economy. It happens every time a nation wins or even just hosts a major sporting tournament. 

These men are also of great use to the public already, without the need to serve in the army. 

Young children and aspiring sportsmen view these athletes as role models, the media finds great use in these players as being of public interest (i.e. people like to know how their country's stars are getting on abroad, etc.) and people use these players as examples, e.g. some may think of these players when battling adversity to achieve their personal goals. 

AS Roma and Norway full-back John Arne Riise managed to steer clear of military service as he was working abroad. He will never be drafted for service now that he has remained outside of the country past his 28th birthday. 

Former Blackburn Rovers and Finland striker Shefki Kuqi avoided the fate of compatriot Teemu Tainio as he was living abroad, telling reporters back in 2005, "Fortunately my lawyer sorted it all out and I didn't have to go back—I got away with it because I've been living abroad."

In any case, Ki might not have to serve in the Korea Republic military, if his club manager Neil Lennon and the board can sort things out with the South Korean FA. 

Speaking to SkySports, Lennon said, "There has been talk of him maybe going out there for the semifinals and final (of the Asian Games). I don't know how far that has got.

"We don't want to lose him as we have Beram Kayal and Scott Brown out, [but] we are negotiating to see what we can do."

Nonetheless, the question still remains, should professional footballers be obliged to do military service? 

Source: The Guardian