Bae loses court battle, faces mandatory military service

Sang-moon Bae will be leaving the PGA Tour to return home to South Korean to begin two years of military conscription after losing a legal appeal on Wednesday. He had been seeking an extension on his overseas travel visa, but a local court denied the extension. “I think that I can further grow as a golfer by returning home soon and completing my mandatory military service”.

Bae was allowed to keep within the United States whereas his lawsuit towards that call was pending however a courtroom in his residence metropolis of Daegu at present backed the Military Manpower Administration (MMA), Yonhap information company reported.

Under the act, men between 25 and 35 who have not yet completed their mandatory service require a special permit to stay overseas.

South Korea came to an armistice agreement to end a war with North Korea that lasted from 1950 to 1953, but the countries are still engaged in military conflict. The Daegu District Court dismissed Bae’s request, saying the MMA’s decision was appropriate.

The court also said Bae’s refusal to immediately join the military “runs counter to the principle of fairness” with others in conscription.

Bae was hopeful of playing in the Presidents Cup in South Korea, but he is No. 23 in the standings.

Bae reiterated his previous claim that he had never meant to dodge the military service entirely.

According to a report on Reuters, South Korean citizens typically don’t respond positively to celebrities and athletes who don’t serve their two years, as most still believe the law protects them from their unstable neighbors to the north, with whom the country is still technically at war with.

Bae refused and filed an administrative suit on January 16.

Bae made 21 PGA Tour starts this season, kicking off with his second career win at the Frys.com Open.