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Gunner Park gets call-up

Image: Park Chu-young: Has joined South Korea's Olympic squad

Park Chu-young has been named in South Korea's Olympic squad despite controversy over his delayed military service.

Striker included in South Korea squad for London Games

Arsenal striker Park Chu-young has been named in South Korea's national squad for this summer's London Olympics despite controversy over his delayed military service. The 26-year-old was dropped from his country's recent 2014 World Cup qualifying squad after he came under fire for delaying his military service by obtaining a ten-year residency for Monaco last year. However, he apologised on his return to South Korea earlier this month and has been included as one of Hong Myung-bo's three over-aged players for the Games. Park, who joined Arsenal from AS Monaco last August, has endured a lacklustre debut season in North London, scoring once in just six appearances. However, he remains one of South Korea's most influential players, having been a prolific scorer in national colours since making his debut in 2005.

Experience

Coach Hong said: "Physically, he's much better than I'd expected him to be. "He brings a lot of international experience and he will play a significant role on this team. "As a head coach, I'd like for him to do a lot of things, but he's just one of 18 players we have. "I am actually worried that he might be trying to do too much for the team. I don't want that to affect his performance." Sunderland striker Ji Dong-won and Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-yueng have also been included in Hong's squad. South Korea have been paired with Mexico, Switzerland and Gabon in Group B.

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