'Ogu Controversy' Yuna Yoon "Fate Decided on the 20th"... KLPGA Disciplinary Committee to Convene

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] The fate of Yoon Ina (19, photo), who caused the 'Ogu scandal,' will be decided on the 20th.

On the 5th, the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) announced, "The Disciplinary Committee regarding Yoon Ina and related parties, who caused controversy by participating in the 36th DB Group Korea Women's Open in June, will be held at 8 a.m. on the 20th at the association office in Gangnam-gu, Seoul."

During the first round of the Korea Women's Open, Yoon Ina's tee shot on the 15th hole veered to the right, and she proceeded with the game believing she had found her ball in the rough. Later, she realized it was not her ball but continued to play without taking any action. About a month after the tournament ended, on the 15th of last month, she voluntarily reported the Ogu play to the Korea Golf Association (KGA), and on the 25th of the same month, she issued an apology and temporarily suspended her participation in tournaments.

The KGA held a Sports Fairness Committee last month and imposed a three-year suspension from association-hosted and organized tournaments on Yoon Ina. The reasons for the disciplinary action included her awareness of violating golf rules yet participating until the next day, disrupting the order of the tournament, and as a former national team member who should have set an example, hiding the golf rule violation and only voluntarily reporting it after a significant period, thereby damaging the trust fundamental to golf and causing social controversy.

Since the KGA, which organized the tournament, issued a three-year suspension, there is a high possibility that the KLPGA will also impose a severe penalty. The KGA's sanction is effectively limited to the single Korea Women's Open tournament, but the KLPGA Tour's disciplinary action would apply to all approximately 30 tournaments held annually. After the Korea Women's Open, Yoon Ina won the Ever Collagen Queens Crown, which ended on July 17. She was gaining attention as a 'next-generation star,' ranking 4th in rookie points and 1st in driving distance this season, but the Ogu play has brought the greatest crisis to her athletic career.