Yang Hyun Jun eyes Celtic reprieve as he targets Olympics to bypass 21 MONTHS of military service

Incoming Celtic winger Yang Hyun-jun has revealed he's desperate to play for South Korea at the Olympics next year, with the 21-year-old yet to complete his mandatory military service.

The champions have snapped up Yang, along with countryman Kwon Hyeok-kyu in a double swoop on the K-League. They will join South Korean international striker Oh Hyeon-gyu in Glasgow as Brendan Rodgers' side prepares for the new season. However, unlike Oh and Kwon, Yang has still to complete his military conscription, South Korean media have confirmed.

All males must complete their military service in South Korea before they turn 28 and it lasts for 21 months. But he has a glimmer of hope that he can avoid being called up for the army - South Korean footballers who win Olympic gold are exempt from fulfilling their full military service as an incentive to win. And Yang admitted he would love to be called up for the tournament next year in Paris, which takes place in July to August.

He said: "I don't think it's a certainty I will get called up for the Olympics. If I'm doing well at Celtic this season then it's also good for coach Hwang Seon-hong. I have to prove that I should be selected. The first step will be adapting to life at Celtic and showing them what kind of a player I am."

New teammate Kwon revealed earlier this week he was first told about Celtic's interest in him when he completed his military service. He said: "The first time I heard about a transfer to Celtic was from a sergeant in the army when I was at Gimcheon Sangmu, so it was an unusual way for me to find out!"

And Oh completed his military service last year. He explained: "I was a sergeant in the army and was discharged in 2021. I know it's much younger than a lot of my