Avoiding National Service - Korean Style

Most of the 3,500 spectators in the compact stadium on the east bank of the Pearl River stood and cheered as the batter approached the plate.

He usually plays in front of bigger crowds and faces better pitchers but this was different.

Shin-soo Choo is an outfielder for the Cleveland Indians and is what baseball scouts call a five tool player -he is good at everything. The 28-year-old is a productive hitter and last season became the first Indians player since 1901 to have a batting average of .300, hit at least 20 home runs and steal 20 bases. He can play ball.

By professional baseball standards Choo is poorly paid - $500,000 a year - but he has hired a top agent and expects to earn twenty times his current salary in the next few years.

During the off season he resides in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife. He is living the American dream but for all his skill, wealth and enviable lifestyle he had a major league problem.

South Korean men have to serve two years in the army before they are 30 and Choo was about to strike out. Two seasons out of baseball would seriously damage his career. And with North Korea stinging for World War III military service would be no stroll in the ballpark.

The Indians had explored American citizenship but the South Korean government would have cut Choo loose.

There was another way out. Gold medallists are excused national service but Major League Baseball refused to allow Choo to compete in Beijing in 2008 and baseball has been dropped from the 2012 games in London.

Choo's last chance was the Asian Games in Guangzhou.

In the four games en route to the final Choo batted. 571 with three home runs, six walks, eight runs scored and 11 runs batted in (RBI's) and here he was stepping up in the final against Chinese Taipei with his future on the line.

Choo never flinched, hit a line drive to right field and hustled to first. He then stole second before a teammate scored him with another single.

Korea were up and running and in the fourth inning scored four more runs, including a three run homer, to lead 6-1. Relief pitcher Sukmin Yoon and his curveball frustrated the Chinese Taipei and Korea won 9-3.

" Honestly if I told you I didn't think about the military service I might be a liar," said Choo after the game.

" But it wasn't the primary reason for joining the national team. I love baseball and I am really proud of my nation. That's why I want to play for this team. I am representing all the Korean baseball players."

Right now there is a man sitting at home in Phoenix, Arizona with a gold medal on the mantelpiece and heaving a sigh of relief almost as loud as the artillery on the Korean Peninsula.