[Field Story] Yoon Ina and the Four-Sided Theory

Early Relief Movements Stirring Both Online and Offline

The domestic professional tournaments are about to open. The Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour will hold the Lotte Rent-a-Car Women’s Open (total prize money of 800 million KRW) on April 6 at Lotte Skyhill Golf Course in Seogwipo, Jeju, and the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Korean Tour will kick off its grand journey a week later, on April 13, at La Vie Belle Golf Course in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, starting with the DB Insurance Promy Open (total prize money of 700 million KRW).

There is a player attracting attention ahead of the full-fledged golf season. She is 19-year-old Yoon In-a-da, who caused a long-drive sensation on the KLPGA Tour last year. She is currently serving a three-year suspension due to "Ogu play" and is in self-reflection. Recently, cautious discussions about a "pardon" for Yoon In-a-da have been emerging. A golf management official said, "Telling a golf player not to participate in tournaments for three years is like telling them to quit the sport," adding, "The punishment was too harsh." This official compared it to other sports: "In baseball, there are players who intentionally throw beanballs at the head, which is a life-threatening misconduct. If a player throws a beanball, they are immediately ejected but can play in the next game. The same goes for soccer. Even if a player commits a tackle that threatens another player's career and receives a direct red card, the suspension is only three games. Yoon In-a-da’s three-year suspension was excessive. Now, the KLPGA president needs to take action."

Sympathy for Yoon Ina, who received a 3-year suspension from Ogu Play, is emerging both online and offline.

Sympathy for Yoon In-a-da is heated both online and offline. On one portal site's Open Talk, five fan rooms supporting Yoon In-a-da have been created. Each room can accommodate up to 1,000 participants. Four of these rooms are full. Opinions on her return to the field vary in these rooms, but interestingly, most support her quick comeback to the golf course.

Offline, actions to reduce Yoon In-a-da’s suspension continue. A representative who operates a golf course in Chungnam is collecting petitions praying for her relief. "I am not personally acquainted with Yoon In-a-da. She is a promising player who can lead the tour, and I felt she should not be left like this. To contribute even a little, I am collecting petitions from golf officials."

Of course, Yoon In-a-da committed a serious mistake. In June last year, during the first round of the Korea Women’s Open at the 15th hole, she violated the rules. Knowing that the ball in the rough was not hers, she continued playing. About a month after the rule violation, in July, she voluntarily reported the "Ogu play" to the Korea Golf Association and stopped participating in tournaments. Yoon In-a-da received a severe penalty of a three-year ban from all tournaments from both the Korea Golf Association and the KLPGA.

Yoon In-a-da has not requested a retrial of the suspension and is currently reflecting. She expressed remorse, saying, "I am very sorry. I will come back as a better player." On her social media (SNS), she bowed her head and said, "I apologize for disappointing many who cared for and supported me. I will do my best to return as a better player." Yoon In-a-da is training in the United States, hoping for a better tomorrow.

Yoon In-a-da possesses a long drive of up to 300 yards, stemming from her tall height of 170 cm. After dominating the amateur stage, she joined the Dream (2nd tier) Tour belatedly in July 2021 and secured the regular tour card as the top money winner, with two wins and eight top-10 finishes. In July last year, she achieved a wire-to-wire victory at the Ever Collagen Queens Crown. She has established herself as the next-generation star to lead women’s golf in Korea, drawing large galleries with her powerful play. The KLPGA Tour has been suffering from a drought of stars. There is even cautious speculation that this season could be a boom. Why, then, is the pardon discussion for Yoon In-a-da being raised at this moment?