'Oguplay' Yoonina: 'Reconsideration of Disciplinary Reduction Case Early Next Year'

KLPGA Board Decides to Postpone Discussion on Disciplinary Reduction
KGA Reduces Sanction from 3 Years to 1 Year 6 Months
KLPGA Disciplinary Reduction Needed for Normal Participation Next Year

No conclusion was reached.

It concerns the disciplinary reduction request of ‘Oguplay’ Yoon Ina. The Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) held its 10th board meeting on the 14th and discussed Yoon Ina’s disciplinary reduction request but did not reach a final decision. The KLPGA announced, "The request for disciplinary reduction for regular member Yoon Ina was thoroughly discussed. It was decided to reconsider the disciplinary reduction at the next board meeting to be held early next year." Whether Yoon Ina will return to the field normally has been postponed until early next year.

Yoon Ina

Last June, Yoon Ina caused controversy by playing with a ball that was not hers at the Korea Women’s Open and reporting it late despite knowing the fact. As the rule violation was revealed belatedly, she was disciplined by the Korea Golf Association (KGA) and KLPGA and was banned from participating in various domestic tournaments for three years. During this time, Yoon Ina devoted herself to social volunteer activities and donated prize money earned from participating in minor league golf tournaments in the United States, showing remorse.

In September, Yoon Ina requested a disciplinary reduction from the KGA and had her three-year suspension reduced to one year and six months. The KGA’s disciplinary period ends on February 18 next year. She will be able to participate in the Korea Women’s Open hosted by the KGA in June next year. At that time, the KGA Fairness Committee explained the reason for the reduction, stating, "Yoon Ina complied with the association’s disciplinary decision and showed sincere remorse and repentance by performing over 50 hours of social volunteer work and donating all prize money earned from 13 minor league golf tournaments in the United States." They also said, "Considering more than 5,000 petitions appealing for relief and public opinion that the three-year suspension by the association is close to a severe punishment as it results in a three-year ban from all domestic professional tours, the suspension was reduced and 50 hours of social volunteer work was added."

Although Yoon Ina’s KGA suspension was reduced, she cannot participate in other KLPGA tour events except for the Korea Women’s Open until 2025. Yoon Ina also requested a disciplinary reduction from the KLPGA but did not get the desired result. It is known that the board meeting was evenly split between reduction and maintaining the discipline. In particular, tour players clearly opposed reducing Yoon Ina’s discipline. They insist that the three-year suspension should be fully served due to her failure to report the wrongdoing immediately.