£3m Celtic Star Closing In On South Korea Return For China Clash: Should His Military Exemption Justify The Injury Risk?

£3m Celtic Star Closing In On South Korea Return For China Clash: Should His Military Exemption Justify The Injury Risk? Yang Hyun-jun has stepped up his training in Osaka and hopes to feature in South Korea’s Asian Games semi-final against China on Wednesday, September 30. Celtic will watch his progress closely after the 24-year-old suffered a minor hamstring problem during the 4-1 win over Qatar on September 15. Celtic monitor Yang Hyun-jun ahead of China clash That injury kept Yang out of South Korea’s following games against Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. Now, reports from South Korean media suggest he has increased his workload, while Celts Are Here reports growing confidence around his possible return. Yang himself has targeted the semi-final and final stages of the tournament. A return against China would give him his first competitive appearance in 15 days, although South Korea’s medical staff will still have to judge whether his hamstring can handle the intensity. There is plenty at stake for the Celtic winger. Yang represents South Korea as an over-age player, and an Asian Games gold medal would qualify him for an exemption from South Korea’s mandatory military service requirements. That incentive is enormous for his career. A failure to win gold could eventually force him away from European football for an extended period, creating a far greater interruption than the current injury. Should Celtic accept Yang’s Asian Games gamble? PAISLEY, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 05: Yang Hyun-Jun of Celtic shoots during the William Hill Premiership 2026/27 match between St. Mirren and Celtic at St Mirren Park on September 05, 2026 in Paisley, Scotland. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images) From Celtic’s perspective, the situation creates a genuine headache. Hamstring injuries can recur when players return before reaching full fitness, and Yang has missed two matches since his initial setback. Yet the club can see why the winger wants this chance. Yang has already shown useful attacking form this month, including his goal against St Mirren, and Celtic need him available for their domestic schedule. Still, the military-service exemption gives this decision a different dimension. Celtic could reasonably prefer a cautious rehabilitation programme, but preventing Yang from chasing an opportunity that could protect several years of his European career would carry its own consequences. For me, Celtic should support Yang’s return only if South Korea’s medical team considers him genuinely ready for match intensity. The potential exemption represents a huge personal benefit, but it can’t justify sending an injured player back before his hamstring has recovered properly. If Yang receives medical clearance, a controlled appearance against China makes sense. If doubts remain, Celtic should put his recovery first. One semi-final matters greatly, but another hamstring setback could keep him away from football for much longer.