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Former Portsmouth and Coventry City forward Yang Min-hyeok pens 223-word apology following remarks after Asian Games

Yang Min-hyeok was part of the South Korea side that secured a fourth successive Asian Games title

By Mark McMahon · Portsmouth News

Published: Tuesday, 6 October 2026 at 4:47 PM

Key Things to Know

Yang Min-hyeok apologized after claiming avoiding mandatory military service was South Korea's main motivator at the Asian Games.
South Korea under-23s defeated Japan 1-0 in the final to earn government exemption from compulsory national service.
Yang assisted Eom Ji-sung's decisive 60th-minute goal in the final against tournament hosts Japan.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Former Portsmouth and Coventry City forward Yang Min-hyeok has issued a public apology after facing backlash for comments regarding military service exemption. Following South Korea's 1-0 Asian Games final victory over Japan on Saturday, Yang told the Korean Times that avoiding mandatory military service was the squad's primary motivation, adding that winning a trophy or medal was not important.

Yang, who assisted Eom Ji-sung's 60th-minute winning goal in the final, clarified on social media that exemption was merely one of several motivators and apologized for causing disappointment. The 20-year-old Tottenham Hotspur player is currently on loan at Belgian club KVC Westerlo.

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