Swansea ace Ki Sung-Yueng says he and Tottenham pal Heung-Min Son are ‘ready to fight’ if South Korea calls
Spurs winger could soon be training for war of a different kind as he only has until next year to sign up for his mandatory 18-month military service back home
TOTTENHAM star Heung-Min Son will go into battle against his South Korean pal Ki Sung-Yueng at Swansea in the FA Cup today.
But the winger could soon be training for a very different kind of battle . . . against North Korean despot Kim Jong-un.
Son, 25, has until the end of 2019 to sign up for his mandatory 18-month military service back home, designed to ensure he is ready to take up arms if all hell lets loose on the Korean peninsula.
Swans midfielder Ki avoided his due to winning a bronze medal with South Korea at the London Olympics — but still had to do four weeks intense military training in 2016.
Son has three more chances to gain an exemption from the full conscription: if South Korea reach the World Cup semi-finals, win the Asian Games in August or the Asian Cup next January.
Ki, though, insists as harsh as it might sound for a footballer to be forced into interrupting his Premier League career, Son will be honoured to serve his country.
He said: “It’s something we all respect. It’s not fair to say we are famous footballers so we don’t have to do it.
“Sonny and I can’t just be given special treatment because we’re Premier League players.
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“There are other South Koreans out there who are doing far more important and valuable jobs than kicking a ball around.
“They must do the same, we all understand that. In the UK you don’t have the same situation.
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“We are still divided into two countries and remain officially at war — despite there being a ceasefire for 65 years.
“If my country needs me, I’ll be there for them and I’ll be ready to fight.
“But to be ready to fight, you must learn how to fight.”
Check out SunSport at 10.30pm tonight to read the exclusive interview with Ki Sung-Yueng in full.
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