ROK Soldier’s 4th Place Olympic Finish Will Likely Earn Him Extra Leave Days

GIKorea | August 13, 2021 | ROK Military | 3 Comments

This ROK soldier just came short of earning a mandatory military service exemption:

Private 1st Class Woo Sang-hyeok, 25, of the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps, placed fourth in the men’s high jump category after clearing a 2.34-meter bar at the Tokyo Olympics. (Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corp)

A South Korean high jumper hoping to win a medal at the Tokyo Olympics and qualify for an exemption from his country’s mandatory military service may earn some extra vacation days instead.
Pfc. Woo Sang-hyeok, 25, of the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps, placed fourth in the men’s high jump category after clearing a 2.35-meter bar. That performance broke South Korea’s previous record of 2.34 meters, or 7.7 feet, set in 1997.
Higher jumpers from Qatar, Italy and Belarus edged out Woo with their 2.37-meter jumps in the final round. The Olympic record for the event is 2.39 meters and was achieved by American Charles Austin in 1996, according to the International Olympic Committee’s website.
Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.