South Korean Golfer Tom Kim Wins Gold and Avoids Army Service
South Korean golfer Tom Kim has won a gold medal at the Asian Games, which means he is now exempt from standard military service. Usually, South Korean men must serve in the army for nearly two years. However, the government allows top athletes who win gold to skip this duty. This victory is a major success for the twenty-four-year-old golfer, who can now continue his professional sports career without any long interruptions.
South Korean golfer Tom Kim has won a gold medal at the Asian Games in Japan. This victory is very important because it means he does not have to join the military. In South Korea, healthy men must normally serve in the armed forces for a period of one and a half to almost two years before they reach the age of 28. However, the government has a special rule for successful athletes. If an athlete wins a gold medal at the Asian Games, or any medal at the Olympics, they only need to complete a few weeks of basic training.
The 24-year-old golfer played exceptionally well in the final round of the tournament. He finished with a score of 18 under par to win the competition by three shots. He showed some signs of stress when he made a bogey on the 17th hole, but his excellent play earlier in the day helped him stay ahead. After he finished the final hole, he shouted with joy to show his relief.
To play in this tournament, Kim had to travel quickly from a competition in the United States. He had to deal with a big time difference and very little sleep, but his hard work has paid off. He has already won four PGA Tour events, and this new victory allows him to continue his sports career without a long pause.
Other South Korean athletes have also used this rule in the past. For example, football star Son Heung-min only had to serve for three weeks in 2020 after he won gold in 2018. Unfortunately, Kim's teammate SH Kim missed out on this chance because the team only won a silver medal.
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Why is the gold medal especially important for Tom Kim?
Present Perfect Simple for Recent Events with Present Relevance
The present perfect simple is used to talk about a past action that has a strong connection to the present moment, often showing a recent achievement.
“South Korean golfer Tom Kim has won a gold medal at the Asian Games in Japan.”
What to know · B1
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Scenario: You are explaining to a colleague why a famous sportsperson can continue their career without pausing for national service.
- 01“does not have to join”
- 02“paid off”
- 03“without a long pause”
Register tip · informal
🔑Key Phrases
Shows lack of obligation for a major national duty.
Because of his medical condition, he does not have to join the military.
Used to describe a duration of time that is not completely fixed but falls within a specific range.
The construction project will take from one and a half to almost two years.
Describes a strong emotional physical reaction after a stressful situation ends successfully.
When the doctor gave her the good news, she shouted with joy to show her relief.
Indicates that an activity will continue continuously without any major interruptions.
The musician plans to release her next album without a long pause.
Article Audio — Kokoro TTS
South Korean Golfer Tom Kim Wins Gold and Avoids Army Service
💬Discussion Questions
Open-ended questions to talk or write about — alone, with a partner, or in class.
- 1
Do you think it is fair that successful athletes do not have to do normal military service?
Evaluate - 2
How do you think a long break from a sport affects a professional athlete's career?
Opinion
News sourced from: BBC Sport →. LectoPress rewrites the facts as original graded-reader text for language learners.
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