"Absolutely Not Intended to Disparage the Armed Forces": Choi Woo-jin Explains the 'Race-Finish Meme' After Misunderstanding Over an 'Ankle Mine' Celebration

[Financial News] Choi Woo-jin (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Football Club) explained and expressed regret over a 'gold medal celebration' video he posted on social media.

On the 3rd, Choi Woo-jin posted a video on social media showing himself limping as he walked before taking a gold medal out of his shoe. The video was based on the 'medal in shoe' race-finish challenge meme, which has recently become popular among runners. In the challenge, participants limp as if injured and then remove their shoe to reveal a medal inside.
However, as the video spread online, it drew criticism for evoking a service member injured in a recent land-mine explosion in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). As the controversy grew, Choi deleted the video and posted an apology on social media on the 4th.
Choi explained, "I learned that many people felt uncomfortable and offended by the gold medal celebration video. I want to make it clear that the celebration in the video was absolutely not filmed with the intention of evoking any incident involving Republic of Korea Armed Forces service members, disparaging them, or making light of them."
Regarding the video, he said, "I carefully want to explain that I filmed it with reference to a gold medal celebration video requested by fans who came to cheer us on at the venue. I, too, am deeply aware of the seriousness of the incident and the weight of the sacrifices made by Republic of Korea Armed Forces service members. I never thought that my performance could be interpreted as disparaging the incident."
He continued, "Regardless of my intentions, I deeply regret once again that I should have been more thoughtful about content that could be seen by many different people and more careful in making my judgment. I extend my deepest gratitude and respect to all Republic of Korea Armed Forces service members who are dedicating themselves to the country even at this moment. I also extend my deepest sympathy and condolences to those who sacrificed their lives in the course of serving the country and to their families."

On the 3rd, Choi Woo-jin was one of the members of the South Korea national under-23 football team who defeated Japan 1-0 in the men's football final at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, earning gold medals and military-service benefits. After winning the title, the U-23 football team came under fire over careless remarks and celebrations related to military-service exemptions, including Lee Gi-hyuk and Yang Min-hyeok's comments that they "won't have to serve in the military" and Park Seung-soo's photo showing off a 'discharge cap.'

[email protected] Kim Hee-sun Reporter