FEARS have grown in South Korea that Son Heung-min and team-mates will be drafted into the military as "punishment" for not reaching the World Cup knockout stages.
Laws state that men aged between 18 and 35 must serve two years of national service.
Tottenham forward Son Heung-min could not prevent South Korea from being eliminated from the World Cup
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Tottenham forward Son, 25, could be exempt from service should South Korea win the Asian Games later this summer.
The 2002 World Cup team, which reached the semi-finals, was given a pass on service.
As have other sporting talents from the Olympics and baseball.
But this team's failure to progress from Group F has left some fans fearing the players will be penalised. A petition has been launched calling for the players to be exempt from military duty. In South Korean law, men must serve for two years between the ages of 18 and 35. Son is 25 years old and is yet to serve in the Korean military.
South Korean fan Kim Chul-Seung told USA Today: "They are punished by being forced to do this. It will hurt the performance of the team in the future."
South Korea had a shock victory over holders Germany in their final game of the tournament but it wasn't enough to take them through to the knockouts.
They were beaten by Sweden in their opening game and Mexico confirmed their fate.
A petition was launched on the official presidential website of Korean leader Moon Jae-In which asked that the players' "talent should not be wasted in the military."
South Korean prime minister Lee Nak-Yeon's only comment was that "reality beat our imagination."