There are two ways for a South Korean golfer to get an exemption from the military service that is otherwise mandatory for male citizens between ages 18 and 35. You can win an Olympic medal, or you can take gold in the individual or team event at the Asian Games. This week in Japan, Tom Kim is attempting the latter, and after two rounds at the Kasugai Country Club East Course, he's exactly where he stood at the end of Round 1: Two shots off the lead, now held by both Wenyi Ding and Wei-hsuan Wang. Kim shot 66 in the second round, and as a team the Koreans are in solo third at a collective 14 under, trailing the leaders Japan by just two shots. As Tod Leonard covered here at Digest, the stakes are high—compulsory military service takes between 18 and 21 months, time for practicing golf is scarce, and players like Sangmoon Bae were never quite the same after serving. At 24, Kim could have another shot at the 2028 Olympics or the 2023 Asian Games, but even that is uncertain, as Bae had to begin his service at age 29. Two rounds remain at this year's Asian Games.