Lee Suchan, Chief Director of Himchan Hospital, "At 89, I have to score 89"

Famous for Being an 'Active Golfer'
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"Golf Is a Great Exercise, Play While Keeping Good Manners"

There is a weekend golfer who is hooked on walking golf, or rather, running golf.

'Running Golfer' Lee Soo-chan, CEO of Himchan Hospital, said, "Golf is the only sport you can play while talking with others for 4 hours and 30 minutes. It is the best sport to take care of your health in nature."

This is the story of Lee Soo-chan, the chief director of Himchan Hospital. He is the founder of Himchan Hospital, which first opened in 2002. There are seven branches in Seoul, Incheon, Busan, and Changwon, one Incheon Himchan General Hospital, and overseas branches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Uzbekistan, operating about 1,300 beds in total. In an interview with Asia Economy on the 23rd, Director Lee said with a boyish smile, "I never ride golf carts. Golf, along with walking, is an exercise you can manage even as you get older. You have no idea how fun running golf is."

Director Lee welcomed Asia Economy’s ‘10,000 Steps a Day, 1,000 Characters a Day (Hamanhacheon) Walking Challenge Season 4,’ specifically the ‘Golf Course Grass 10,000 Steps Walking Challenge (May 15 - July 14).’ This untact challenge offers prizes such as free passes to Paju Seowon Hills, Boston bags, golf balls, golf hats, and UV protection patches through a lottery for those who walk 10,000 steps. The participant with the highest number of steps will receive a driver, rangefinder, and hybrid club as part of the walking encouragement event.

Director Lee enjoys golf. When he has no schedule for medical treatment or broadcasting, he heads to the field. "I started golf a bit late. I picked up a golf club at the age of 42, during my time as a gireogi (goose) father. It’s already been over 22 years. When I run, I can’t control my breathing well, so my shots aren’t very good. I ask my caddy not to record my score. Please don’t ask about my golf score. You can assume I shoot in the high 80s. I’m playing rounds because running on the golf course makes me so happy, more than the score."

Due to excessive work and stress, he experienced health warning signs. He developed hypertension and hyperlipidemia. At first, he started walking around his neighborhood. He felt his body was improving but something was missing. That’s when he started running golf. "Light running is good for overall health as well as bone health. You can run on asphalt or a treadmill, but the hard surface puts a lot of strain on your joints. Golf courses have soft grass, so running there reduces the impact on your knees. I don’t run lightly on the golf course. (laughs) I run vigorously. After hitting a driver and once my companions finish their tee shots, I immediately get ready to run. It’s aerobic exercise, and my cardiopulmonary function has improved."

He has his own definite routine and etiquette. Since he doesn’t ride a cart, he pays more attention to the pace of the game. It’s speed golf. He only takes one practice swing before hitting the ball. If he can’t find the ball within 5 seconds, he gives up. "I’ve seen golfers take 5 to 10 practice swings. Even professional players say two swings are appropriate. Also, some golfers keep searching for their ball until the very end. If the caddy can’t find it, weekend golfers have an even harder time. It’s better to give up quickly."

Lee Suchan, the chief director of Himchan Hospital, is running towards the ball that landed on the fairway for his second shot after taking the tee shot.

He is a golfer popular with caddies. He never speaks informally to them. He plays quickly on the green. After holing out, he immediately runs to the next hole. Even if the caddy tries to stop him, he keeps running on the golf course. "Running golf may seem strange to others, but it’s very beneficial for joint health. At first, caddies were worried because I didn’t ride carts. But after seeing my play, they let go of their concerns. The caddies really like me. They even clean my balls diligently. Although my score isn’t good, I’m a popular golfer."

He is deeply fascinated by the charm of golf. He thinks it’s the best exercise to socialize with various people. Especially during COVID-19, he greatly enjoyed the effect of breathing fresh air outdoors. "At first, I had a biased view of golf. I thought, what kind of exercise is that? It does have the downside of being expensive, but golf is the only sport where you can talk with people you like for four and a half hours. Even men would get tired after just an hour of conversation. That’s why I think golf is the best exercise."

He also pays attention to injury prevention. He stretches sufficiently and works on flexibility. He arrives early at the golf course to warm up properly. Before tee shots, he stretches again with the caddy. "Golf is an exercise where you fix your lower body and rotate your body. Without flexibility, your knees, elbows, and lower back can be strained. I’ve had golf elbow from hitting behind the ball. You need to perform correct movements and train your muscles to prevent injuries."

His favorite player is the ‘Golf Empress’ Park In-bee. She is a superstar with 21 wins on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, including seven major championships. She is also a ‘career golden slammer,’ having won four different major tournaments and an Olympic gold medal. "She’s truly an amazing player. She’s not a long hitter, but she has won so many tournaments with precise shots. She seems to play golf so easily and lightly. Amateur golfers should follow Park In-bee’s example. Don’t hit hard, be accurate, and don’t overswing. That way, you won’t get injured."

Recently, he read an interesting article about Kim Jae-cheol, honorary chairman of Dongwon Group, who made a hole-in-one at the age of 90. Chairman Kim is also famous for his golf skills in the business world. Director Lee does 100 squats a day to play golf for a long time. When he can’t go to the golf course, he walks frequently. "I thought it was amazing to play golf at 90 after seeing the news. The photos showed a good swing. I want to shoot 89 at 89 years old. My dream is to spend my old age happily. I want to make an age shoot even at 89. To do that, I need to run more and exercise on the golf course."