Paris Olympics 2024 day 8 live updates

A storyline is playing out at Le Golf National that carries more weight than any medal.

Tom Kim and Byeong Hun An, representing South Korea, have both played their way into the top 15 of the men’s golf competition and are eyeing Sunday opportunities to medal.

Silver or bronze would be great. But gold would come with an ultimate prize — an exemption from South Korea’s mandatory military service policy.

Kim, 22, and, An, 32, are both subject to the law that requires most able-bodied men to perform 18-21 months of military service between the ages of 18 and 35. Relief from the requirement is exceedingly rare and offered only to athletes and classical artists who deliver results in international competitions tied to national prestige. Included in that is Olympic gold medalists.

An, the 32nd-ranked player in the world, is 6-under through 14 holes today, moving to 8-under for the tournament ands four shots off the lead currently held by England’s Tommy Fleetwood. An has vaulted 19 spots up the leaderboard to a tie for11th.

Hun was originally 8-under through 11 holes, but double-bogeyed the par-4 13th hole. Kim is tied for 15th at 7-under, sitting at 1-over on the day.

Conscription in South Korea has existed since 1957, requiring compulsory military service of all men. (Women are not required to perform military service.) From athletes to hugely famous members of K-pop bands have served.

“We are here to represent our country and, to be honest, I want me and Ben to be standing in that stadium not for the exemption but for our country,” Kim said earlier this week at Le Golf National. “That’s the most important part. That’s the pride of being a South Korean. We have our services, and it is what it is. We are going to go throughout and we are going to play our best, and I really hope he and I are standing on that podium.”

Sangmoon Bae, once ranked as high as 26th in the world, sought an exception to military service in 2014, but was denied. He entered the military in 2015 ranked 85th in the world. He returned to competition in 2017, but struggled badly to regained his previous form. He’s never cracked the top-300 in the world since and currently plays on the Asian Tour and gets occasional starts on the PGA Tour.

Legendary South Korean golfers K.J. Choi and Y.E. Yang completed their military service before turning professional.