Tottenham confirm Son Heung-min will begin military service in South Korea during Premier League’s coronavirus break

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that Son Heung-min will begin his mandatory military service in South Korea this month.

Son, currently in a two-week quarantine after flying in from London last month, by law must serve a four-week national service in the South Korean military.

The service was originally due to last 21 months, but Son earned an exemption in 2018 when he led South Korea to the Asian Games title.

The midfielder is recovering from a broken arm, but it was reported last week that he saw the ongoing coronavirus-enforced break from Premier League football as an opportunity to carry out his service without it impacting his playing career.

A statement from Spurs read: “The Club can confirm that Heung-Min Son will commence his mandatory military service in South Korea this month.

“The forward arrived back in his home country at the end of March where he is currently in quarantine. Our medical staff are in regular contact as he concludes his recovery after fracturing his arm in our 3-2 win against Aston Villa on 16 February and continues to train.

“Son had surgery on his arm in South Korea before returning to the UK at the end of February to continue his rehabilitation, prior to the initial announcement of the professional game in England being suspended as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Premier League has since announced that the 2019/20 season will only return when it is ‘safe and appropriate to do so’ and is under constant review.

“Son will return to London following the conclusion of his military service in May.”

Team-mate Steven Bergwijn was allowed to return to his native Netherlands for the birth of his first child at the same time as Son travelled to South Korea.

PA contributed to this article

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