Hong-Man Choi to start National Service

[mdhan]

According to MFight (Korea's biggest MMA news site), Choi will be starting his National Service duties on April 21. What this basically means is that he won't be fighting for the next 2 years. There was a similar rumor last year, but it has been confirmed by Choi's camp this time. According to Choi, he initially wanted to put a hold on his "musical career" (for those who didn't know, he was working on some lame rap album) to focus on solely on K-1. But he later decided that getting his National Service duties over with would be in the best interest of his fighting career so he went ahead and made the decision. The article also says that this was the reason Choi didn't participate in the Yokohama event.

http://www.mfight.co.kr/news/viewbody_ex.php?code=mfight_board_news&number=8171


EDIT: It's TWO years, not 3, like I posted earlier. Got it a little mixed up. Sorry.

[loreia]

Thanks for update.

[Jofeljoh!]

*cheers*

[Global Honored]

I dare say he may be the largest soldier in the Korean Service.

[miscmisc]

Finally, the time has come. Korean athletes in general have clear disadvantages due to this. Korean national service is well-known for its nastiness, though they say it's nowhere near as bad as it used to be.

On a practical level, someone like Choi would make the most useless soldier possible in modern warfare, but that's totally beside the point of course...

Good luck with him in the service.

[sparkles]

Oh great ... there goes Schilt his challenger ...
Why can't he fight while he's in the army?

[fubuki]

Oh great ... there goes Schilt his challenger ...
Why can't he fight while he's in the army?

Duh, because the military doesn't like violence.

[K1power]

Thanks for the update.

[ilostmydog]

He should join the military Starcraft team. They'd have to find him a really big keyboard though.

[K-1 Extremist]

He should join the military Starcraft team. They'd have to find him a really big keyboard though.

He would simply reach through the monitor and choke the opponent.

[( o Y o )]

he will be doing admin type work as he failed the physicals for real soldier duties.

[sampson21]

Finally, the time has come. Korean athletes in general have clear disadvantages due to this. Korean national service is well-known for its nastiness, though they say it's nowhere near as bad as it used to be.

On a practical level, someone like Choi would make the most useless soldier possible in modern warfare, but that's totally beside the point of course...

Good luck with him in the service.

I Agree!
Totally!

[Arie-Kanarie]

he will be doing admin type work as he failed the physicals for real soldier duties.

I think South-Korea can use Choi very well as a big attraction at the DMZ.

[heckyl]

he will be doing admin type work as he failed the physicals for real soldier duties.

so... Choi can't join the starcraft team? :(

[sampson21]

What size shoe does he wear?

[Jofeljoh!]

he will be doing admin type work as he failed the physicals for real soldier duties.

I doubt he can type 400 characters a minute with those fingers lol

[mdhan]

he will be doing admin type work as he failed the physicals for real soldier duties.

You're right. Thanks to his medical condition, he'll be working as a "public interest personnel" which can be anything from security work at subway stations to making copies at county offices.

[mdhan]

Some speculation is circulating around in the Korean media that Choi may get an exemption afterall. The media is saying that he might fail the second mandatory physical that takes place in the Army Training Center. Normally when someone fails the second physical, he is brought back again at a later date for another physical, and gets an exemption if he fails again. Many people expect that he'll likely fail the second physical at least, increasing the possibility of getting exempted. But remember this is just speculation from the media though.

[heckyl]

security work... Choi would be a scary security guard thats for sure.

[AKA]

I hope the last speculation is true!
To be very honest I think that HMC is a very important characters in K1, both in Japan and in Korea (obviously). It will be bad for K1 and we dont need that...

And I think HMC is a great athlete...I'm serious! His fights vs Schilt, JLB and Fedor just showed he was a great opponent for every champions!

I vote HMC in K1!!!

[Kenshin]

He is a great athlete for sure. He is not just big, he have a amazing body, well trained.

[heckyl]

I hope the last speculation is true!
To be very honest I think that HMC is a very important characters in K1, both in Japan and in Korea (obviously). It will be bad for K1 and we dont need that...

And I think HMC is a great athlete...I'm serious! His fights vs Schilt, JLB and Fedor just showed he was a great opponent for every champions!

I vote HMC in K1!!!

agreed. as much as i never thought id say it, i will miss Choi if he cant fight.

[K1power]

I doubt he can type 400 characters a minute with those fingers lol

You serious? With one finger he can cover the whole keyboard. Theoretically he could type a million characters a minute. The outcome just wouldn't look too nice, lol

BTW I'll also miss seeing Choi in K-1. Despite what some may say, I think he's a true athlete devoted to improve and it shows in every fight compared to the last one. Besides that, he's great for the Korean market.

[likma]

Choi did show he's a good opponent for everyone, and I'm surely hope second rumor is true and he'll keep fighting in both K-1 and MMA.

[( o Y o )]

A Korean bloke on the dog posted

"Choi has been sent home today, after he submitted medical documentaions stating he is losing his eye sight, a problem possibly related to his tumor. They wil re-examine him later date and decide if he still has to serve or be exampt."

[heckyl]

damn losing his eye sight? thats horrible if he is.