By Angie Teo
BOGOR, Indonesia (Reuters) - South Korea beat Vietnam 3-1 in the Asian Games semi-finals on Wednesday thanks to Lee Seung-woo's double and if they retain the title it would have significant ramifications for striker Son Heung-min's professional career.
Son, 26, who plays for Premier League club Totttenham Hotspur, provided the assist for the second goal before being substituted in the 72nd minute. He would be exempted from mandatory military service if South Korea win the competition.
All able-bodied South Korean men must complete 21 months service in the military as a deterrent against the North, but exemptions are offered to athletes who win gold at the Asian Games or a medal of any colour at the Olympics.
The champions, who will play Japan or the United Arab Emirates in Saturday's final, grabbed an early lead when Lee scored the first of his two goals with a left-foot shot after Hwang Ui-jo tumbled trying to meet the through pass.
Hwang made amends just before the half-hour when Son fed him a through pass which he chipped over goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung.
Vietnam's occasional attacks mostly faltered before reaching the opposition box and South Korea keeper Jo Hyeon-woo was barely tested by a couple of tame long-range strikes.
Lee scored again 10 minutes into the second half when he latched onto a pass from Hwang Hee-chan.
Vietnam finally got on the scoresheet when Tran Minh Vuong buried a curling free-kick into the net in the 70th minute.
The defeat broke the hearts of hundreds of Vietnamese who thronged the Pakansari Stadium blowing vuvuzela, playing cymbals and waving flags.
Tommy Nguyen, a tour guide, said at least 300 Vietnam fans made a one-day trip to Jakarta to watch the match.
"We love the Vietnamese under-23 team, especially the Korean coach (Park Hang-seo)," said Ngo Thanh Tung, a fan from Halong Bay.
"That's why even though we had to cross such a distance, are tired and had to pay a lot of money, we are here today," added the 40-year-old.
(Writing by Amlan Chakraborty in Jakarta, editing by Ken Ferris)