[Newstart New Challenge] Yoon Ina: "I Will Follow Pro Shin Ji-ae's Path"

"Want to Learn Unwavering Passion and Consistency"
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The year of Eulsa has dawned. 2025 is the ‘Year of the Blue Snake.’ It is also called the ‘Year of Cheongsa (靑蛇).’ As the 42nd in the sexagenary cycle, it symbolizes the blue ‘Eul (乙)’ and the snake ‘Sa (巳).’ The snake represents wisdom, change, and leap. Because of its characteristic of shedding its skin, it signifies a new beginning. This year, too, there are golfers who do not settle in one place but look toward higher goals. Some players are heading beyond Korea to the United States, Japan, and Asia. We heard the determination of players aiming to reach the top in the year of Eulsa.

Yuna Yoon conveyed New Year's greetings to the readers of Asia Economy.

“The golfer I respect the most is Pro Shin Ji-ae.” This is what Yoon Ina, who dominated last year’s Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, said. In an interview with Asia Economy on the 2nd, she smiled brightly, saying, “Pro Shin Ji-ae seems to truly love golf. I want to emulate her heart, unquenchable passion, and consistency.” Shin Ji-ae is a legend with 65 wins worldwide. Yoon Ina, who is challenging the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour this year, expressed her ambition: “I want to win Rookie of the Year and rise to world No. 1. If given the chance, I also want to win an Olympic gold medal.”

Yoo Nina, who has dominated the domestic stage, expressed her bold ambition to become the best in the United States this year. Yonhap News

Yoon Ina experienced ups and downs on the KLPGA Tour. In June 2002, it was revealed that she continued a match despite knowing about a wrong play at the Korean Women’s Open, resulting in disciplinary action. She was suspended for three years, but the suspension was reduced to one year and six months, allowing her to make a comeback at the Doosan Construction We’ve Championship, the domestic season opener, in April last year.

Last year, she shed the burden from her heart and soared. In August last year, she won her second career victory after two years and one month at the Jeju Samdasoo Masters. She participated in 25 tournaments last year, finishing in the ‘Top 10’ fourteen times, leading the points (535 points), prize money (1.21142 billion KRW), average score (70.05), and ‘Top 10’ finish rate (56%). She humbly said, “Many people have helped me. I will always be grateful and approach tournaments with that mindset.”

Yoo Nina is bowing her head in greeting before the tee shot on the 1st hole of the 1st round at the Doosan Construction We’ve Championship last April. Photo by KLPGA

Yoon Ina’s strength is her powerful long drives stemming from her tall height of 170cm. Last year, she averaged 257.95 yards (2nd place), easily making birdies. In her debut year, 2022, she ranked first in driving distance (264.25 yards). At the LPGA Tour Qualifying (Q) Series Final held in early December last year, she also showcased tremendous distance. Although she missed the top spot, she placed 8th and confidently secured her regular tour card.

LPGA Tour courses are increasingly getting longer. This is a favorable condition for a long hitter like Yoon Ina to succeed. She plans to focus on short game training during the off-season. “What I realized most during the Q Series was the importance of the short game. To get the ball close to the pin on different grasses than in Korea, various skills are needed. I think I am still lacking in that area. If I improve on that, I will be able to adapt well in the U.S. too.”

Yoo Yina is challenging for a victory on the LPGA Tour this year, powered by her powerful long drives. Photo by KLPGA

Yoon Ina is determined to show her true value from her first year in the U.S. She is preparing thoroughly to adapt to the new stage. First, she signed a management contract with Sema Sports Marketing. She said, “I feel very reassured to be with Sema Sports Marketing. With the mindset of starting golf anew, I will constantly strive to be a player who keeps improving.” Sema Sports Marketing previously managed players like Choi Na-yeon and Shin Ji-ae, and currently manages star players such as Ko Jin-young, Park Sung-hyun, and Yoo Hae-ran, who are LPGA Tour members.

Yoon Ina harbors a warm heart to give back to the domestic golf community as much as she has received love. She promised to donate 100 million KRW each to the Korea Golf Association (KGA) and the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA). “I have said I want to be a player who works hard for the development of golf, and I thought the best thing I can do is to help junior players,” she said with a shy expression. “I hope to be a seed of hope for junior players who nurture their dreams in difficult environments.”

Yoon Ina and Lee Seonghwan, CEO of Semasports Marketing, are answering reporters' questions at a press conference regarding entry into the LPGA Tour. Photo by Yonhap News

Yoon Ina will depart for the U.S. on the 19th. Until she leaves, she will focus on rest, physical training, and rehabilitation exercises. She plans to maintain her routine of waking up three hours and 30 minutes before tournaments even in the U.S. She plans to rent a house in Dallas, Texas. She chose it because it is centrally located in the U.S., making travel convenient, and there are many people who can help. She also intends to hire a local short game coach and caddie soon. She will announce a sponsor that can stably support her tour life in the near future.

Yoo Yina plans to focus on short game training during the off-season. Photo by KLPGA

Her dream is grand. Winning is not everything. She is determined to become the best in women’s golf. She plans to make the Founders Cup in early February her official LPGA Tour debut. “I am stepping onto the dream stage and the biggest stage as a golfer, the LPGA Tour, to take on a new challenge. First, I will vigorously pursue Rookie of the Year. I will adapt well to the new stage. In the long term, I want to definitely reach world No. 1 and maintain it as long as possible. Winning an Olympic gold medal is also something I desire. I ask for your great support.”