Korean skater celebrates too early, will have to do mandatory military service after missing gold

Huang Yu-Lin, left, of Team Chinese Taipei leads Jung Cheol-won of Team South Korea as they cross the finish line in the Roller Skating - Men's Speed Skating 3000m Relay Race Final. Photo / Getty Images

A Korean roller skater will have 18 months of mandatory military service to dwell on celebrating too early at the Asian Games in China.

Jung Cheolwon crossed the line in Tuesday’s 3000-metre relay and began to celebrate, thinking he’d won the gold medal for South Korea. All Korean gold medal winners at the Asian Games get an exemption to skip the mandatory military service.

Never celebrate too early.

เมื่อวานนี้ Huang Yu-lin นักกีฬาโรลเลอร์สเก็ตชาย 3,000 เมตรของ #จีนไทเป คว้าเหรียญทองที่ 11 ให้กับประเทศที่ #AsianGames ในนครหางโจว #จีน โดยเข้าสู่เส้นชัยเฉือน Jung Cheol-won นักกีฬาเกาหลีใต้เพียง 0.01 วินาที

เหตุ Jung Cheol-won นักโรลเลอร์สเก็ต… pic.twitter.com/NGS1VoTnDO

— pone poyepoloye (@motorwars) October 3, 2023

But he was shocked when the scoreboard showed South Korea had finished second to Taiwan, which clocked 4m 05.692s. South Korea finished in 4:05.702.

Huang Yu-Lin lunged at the line and managed to steal gold.

Jung apologised to his teammate Choi In-Ho, 23, who will also have to do mandatory military service, for his costly error.

It is obligatory in South Korea for men aged between 18 and 28 to take part in national service, with sporting exemptions for victory in either the Olympics or Asian Games.

“I made a rather big mistake,” the 27-year-old Jung said. “I didn’t come at full speed to the finish line. I let my guard down too early. I am very sorry.”