This picture taken on October 3, 2026 shows South Korean players singing the national anthem prior to the men's football final match between Japan and South Korea in the 2026 Asian Games at Toyota Stadium in Toyota. For South Korea's gold medal-winning footballers, victory at the Asian Games came with a reward beyond sporting glory: exemption from the country's mandatory military service. But the way some players celebrated that benefit has sparked a public backlash, prompting Seoul to reconsider a decades-old system originally designed to reward athletes for bringing prestige to the nation. (Photo by YONHAP / AFP via Getty Images) / - South Korea OUT / NO ARCHIVES - RESTRICTED TO SUBSCRIPTION USE TO GO WITH AFP STORY SKorea-NKorea-fbl-politics-exemption / FOCUS BY Kang Jin-kyu