Kim was visibly relieved at getting over the line when he rolled home the final putt, letting out a yell and shouting, “Come on!”
He described the tension of trying to secure a gold medal as totally different to normal tournament golf.
“It’s a crazy feeling,” said the world No 32, who dashed across 14 time zones to play in the Asian Games after the Presidents Cup last weekend.
“I’m just glad it’s over. This day was the longest day I think I’ve ever had in my life.
“At a tour event it is not as if you would feel tension every day from Thursday to Sunday,” Kim said.
“But this week I was nervous from start to finish.
“I told myself this would be the longest week of my life. And once I had that in mind, I was able to keep my composure.”
Able-bodied South Korean males are usually required to perform between 18 months and two years of military service before the age of 28.
But the Seoul government rewards Asian Games gold medals and Olympic medals of any colour with an exemption, meaning they will carry out just four weeks of light basic training instead.
The 24-year-old Kim can now keep his blossoming career on track, having already won four times on the PGA Tour.
He was downcast in Paris two years ago after letting the chance of an Olympic medal slip away on the final day.
Kim said his next target was the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
“With the Olympics being in the United States, I will feel pretty comfortable there,” Kim said.
“My next goal is to win an Olympic gold medal.”
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