Sang-Yeol Kim, KLPGA President: "The True Owners of the Association Are Its Members"

Key Initiatives Announced at the 15th President's Inauguration Press Conference
Member Welfare, Qualitative Growth of the Tour, and Global Status

"We will focus on the welfare of our members."

Kim Sang-yeol, the 15th president of KLPGA, is delivering his inaugural speech. Photo by KLPGA

Kim Sang-yeol, the 15th president of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA), named member welfare as his top priority. At the inauguration press conference held on the 20th at the Olympic Parktel in Seoul, he stated, "The true owners of the KLPGA are its members," and added, "We will diversify educational programs and seek long-term welfare benefits so that KLPGA members can maintain a stable life even after retirement."

As his second key initiative, President Kim promised qualitative growth of the KLPGA Tour. He said, "The KLPGA Tour must embrace a new paradigm of qualitative growth as well as quantitative growth," and added, "We will create an advanced tour through operational innovations such as globalizing tournament management and improving pace of play, which is a global trend."

Lastly, he emphasized raising the global status of the KLPGA Tour. President Kim stated, "We will establish global strategies to position the KLPGA Tour as the world’s top tour beyond Asia," and added, "We will expand strategic cooperation with overseas related organizations and global sponsors, and strengthen partnerships with sports marketing companies."

Meanwhile, the KLPGA held its regular general meeting and president inauguration ceremony on the same day. Kim Sang-yeol, former 13th president of the KLPGA and chairman of Seoul Shinmun, was unanimously elected. Kim Mi-hoe was elected as a director, and Kim Do-yeon as an auditor. A total of 80 people attended the general meeting and inauguration ceremony, including 65 delegates and 15 executives.