[Yongsan Report] Yoon's 'Golf Diplomacy' Draws Attention Amid Trump Election Victory

Practiced Occasionally... Acquaintances Say "Skills Are Decent"
Played Occasionally During Prosecutor Days but Didn't Enjoy It
Opposition Criticizes as "Idle"... Yongsan Says "No Problem"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is boarding Air Force One at Seongnam Seoul Airport on the 14th to depart for the 31st Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the 19th G20 Summit. Photo by Yonhap News.

"(President Yoon Suk-yeol) used to always pay for golf himself in the past. When he went with junior prosecutors, he covered all the expenses, and even when playing with outsiders, he was very thorough about the payments," said a legal insider who had played golf with President Yoon during his time as a prosecutor.

The insider added, "He enjoyed golf to some extent when he was a prosecutor and played it occasionally. While I wouldn't say his skills were excellent, they were decent."

As the inauguration of Donald Trump, known as a 'golf enthusiast,' approaches, attention is also being drawn to President Yoon's golf skills and style. Major foreign media outlets such as CNN and The Washington Post reported that South Korea has brought up 'golf diplomacy' as a way to engage with President-elect Trump, who values personal diplomacy.

President-elect Trump is known to enjoy golf so much that he visits the golf course about once a week during his first term. He has used golf as a diplomatic tool, playing five rounds with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Opinions on Trump's golf skills vary, but the consensus is that he is above average.

President Yoon is also reportedly practicing diligently in preparation for a 'golf meeting' with President-elect Trump. Given the nature of golf, having similar skill levels helps keep pace with the partner and allows more time for conversation on the cart or on the course. In the past, President Yoon's golf skills were at the level of a bogey player, shooting around 90 strokes for 18 holes, but recently, having hardly picked up a golf club, his skills have declined to about 100 strokes. A presidential office official said, "President Yoon might be better than Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has just recently picked up a golf club after a long time," adding, "He is improving his skills through practice."

Prime Minister Ishiba is known to have a solid foundation, having been active in his high school golf club. Although he reduced his golf activities after entering politics and hardly played since the late 2000s, it is said that President Yoon has a comparable level of skill.

However, it is reported that President Yoon does not usually enjoy playing golf. A lawyer who worked with President Yoon during his prosecutor days said, "(President Yoon) is not the type to really like golf or play it frequently."

Opinions on President Yoon's golf practice are divided between ruling and opposition parties. The Democratic Party criticized in a written briefing, "We want to understand what is going on in the mind of a president who goes to the golf course even as his approval ratings plummet." Some media outlets reported that President Yoon had often visited golf courses even before President-elect Trump was elected. In response, a presidential office official dismissed the criticism, saying, "Golf is popular among the younger generation these days. Even if the president occasionally plays golf, it is not a big issue."