Seoyoseop, Kim Hanbyeol, Yoon Sangpil 'Scheduled for Military Enlistment'
2016 'Match King' Lee Sangyeop, Park Jungmin Discharged
Those who leave and those who return.
This is the story of Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour players related to military service. If they do not win a gold medal at the Asian Games or at least a bronze medal at the Olympics, they cannot receive military service exemptions. They must serve active duty in the military. After fulfilling their military obligations for 18 months, they must return to the field. After the 2024 season, several top-tier players will leave the field. These are golfers scheduled to enlist after the season ends.
Seo Yoseop is a representative example. He debuted on the KPGA Tour in 2016 and has accumulated five career wins, making him a leading star in Korean men's golf. Known for his powerful driving distance, he won the Long Drive Award in 2019 with an average of 303.03 yards. He claimed his first victory at the 2019 KEB Hana Bank Invitational, and later won the 2021 KPGA Championship and Shinhan Donghae Open, as well as the 2022 Bodyfriend Phantom Robo Gunsan CC Open and LX Championship.
This year, he has been somewhat sluggish. He participated in 20 tournaments but only made it to the final rounds five times. His best personal result this year was a tie for 7th place at the Bizplay-Wonder Club Open in June. Seo Yoseop is 28 years old this year and can no longer postpone his military service. He said, "I plan to serve my military duty early next year with a light heart. As a citizen of the Republic of Korea, I will faithfully fulfill my national defense duties."
Kim Hanbyeol will also say a temporary farewell. He joined the regular tour in 2019 and has three career wins. This year, he finished in the top 10 six times, ranking 9th in scoring average (70.38), 14th in prize money (29,157,000 KRW), and 11th in Genesis Points (3545.59). He will enlist after this season. Kim Hanbyeol had planned to enlist last year but had to postpone due to an unfortunate injury?a torn ligament in his left foot.
Yoon Sangpil, who won the season-opening DB Insurance Promy Open in April, will also enlist. He surged with a 7-under-par final round to claim a come-from-behind victory. Having joined the regular tour in 2019, he won his first career title in his 77th tournament. Yoon Seongho, who wore the national team badge in 2015-2016, and Kim Taeho, a former national team member in 2017, will also put down their clubs to fulfill their military duties.
There are also players returning after completing their military service. ‘Match King’ Lee Sangyeop is one of them. He joined the KPGA Tour in 2015 and won the 2016 Descente Korea Munsingwear Match Play. He made history by winning the tournament after going through the qualifiers and became the youngest winner in the tournament’s history at 21 years and 5 months old. He enlisted after the 2022 season and is now returning to the field after completing his service. Park Jungmin is also a ‘veteran.’ He debuted in 2012 but has yet to win a title. Like Lee Sangyeop, he enlisted after the 2022 season.
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