Kang-In Lee still awaiting South Korean clearance to join Atlético de Madrid pre-season | OneFootball

Kang-In Lee remains in South Korea awaiting government clearance to join Atlético de Madrid’s pre-season despite being exempt from military service. According to Superdeporte, the 25-year-old needs a permit approved by the Ministry of Defence and the immigration department.

South Korea requires men aged between 18 and 28 to serve unless elite athletes win any Olympic medal or Asian Games gold. His 2023 Asian Games gold grants exemption for promoting national prestige, yet he still cannot depart.

Atlético have begun pre-season and fly to Stockholm on 31 July to face Manchester United, then to Seoul on 5 August to meet Manchester City on 9 August. As he cannot reach Madrid, he can link up when the team arrive in Seoul.

The Seoul fixture was arranged months ago, but circumstances mean he can join while he waits for the permit. Even if his visa is cleared in the coming days, Atlético would not make him take a 14-hour flight to Madrid or Stockholm only to return soon after.

By then the Defence Ministry should have signed off the permit and, if all is in order, he will return from Seoul with the squad. It is unclear whether they will land in Madrid or France, where Atlético play their final pre-season match on 14 August. His first arrival in the capital could come only four days before the LaLiga opener on 19 August at the Estadio Metropolitano against Málaga CF.

Source: Superdeporte