Sang-Moon Bae is a two time winner on the PGA tour and was slated to tee off in the Canadian Open this weekend.
However, the 29 year old will now be heading back to South Korea to fulfill his mandated 2 year service in the South Korean military. Each 18-35 year old in the country has the same mandate due to South Korea still technically being at war with its northern neighbors.
In February Bae was charged with not filing an extension to his overseas travel permit. He challenged that he didn’t qualify for such permits since he did not spend sufficient time outside of the country in 2014.
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Today, his hometown of Daegu agreed with the Military Manpower Administration of South Korea, and ruled in their favor.
Members of the Korean army are paid $130 a month, a far cry from the $2,000,000 Bae has earned this year already. Luckily for him, the PGA has hinted he may be able to retain his pro status through the service due to its mandatory nature.
South Korea is also home to star golfer K.J. Choi who served before he turned pro. Here’s what the 44 year old had to say to ESPN.com:
“When you are at your prime age, you have to go in the Army, so that takes a lot out of you.”
Here is Bae’s statement to the South Korean news agency Yonhap:
“I am sorry to those who have supported me, including all my fans and South Koreans, for causing anxiety,” Bae told the Yonhap news agency. “I completely respect the court’s decision, and I humbly accept the judgment by the law.”
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Sang-Moon Bae was expecting to tee off Thursday afternoon as part of first-round action at the Canadian Open.
Instead, a court ruling Wednesday in South Korea will force the two-time winner off the PGA Tour and into a mandated two-year military service in his native country.
“I am sorry to those who have supported me, including all my fans and South Koreans, for causing anxiety,” Bae told the Yonhap news agency. “I completely respect the court’s decision, and I humbly accept the judgment by the law.”
