In this photo provided by South Korea Marine Corps’ Facebook, Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min salutes during a basic military training completion ceremony at a Marine Corps boot camp in Seogwipo on Jeju Island, South Korea, Friday, May 8, 2020. Son finished his three-week military training in South Korea on Friday and was right near the top of the class.(South Korea Marine Corps’ Facebook via AP)
SEOUL, South Korea— Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min finished his three-week military training in South Korea on Friday and was right near the top of the class.
The 27-year-old Son entered the Marine Corps training camp on the southern island of Jeju on April 20 for a basic training period that he undertook while the Premier League was suspended in Britain because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Social distancing restrictions still in place in South Korea meant Son’s graduation ceremony, held Friday morning local time, was closed to the public. That didn’t stop dozens of fans waiting outside.
South Korean media reported that Son was presented with an award given to the top five performing trainees in the group of 157, and achieved a perfect record in shooting.
He was fulfilling requirements of the military service exemption he earned by winning the gold medal for South Korea in the soccer tournament at the Asian Games in 2018. Without the exemption, he would have been required by law to serve 21 months.
After basic training, he still has community service obligations to finish by 2023 to complete all military duties.
Son is expected to return to London later this month. The Premier League is trying to find a way to resume in June but group practice sessions have not yet started.
South Korea’s K-League was set to kick off later Friday with defending champion Jeonbuk Motors facing Suwon Bluewings in the southwestern city of Jeonju.
The K-League had been scheduled to start Feb.29 but had to be delayed because of the virus outbreak.
No fans will be allowed in stadiums, many which were built for the 2002 World Cup and have capacities of over 40,000, at least for the first few weeks of competition.