[Newstart New Challenge] Choi Hyeyong "I am also an office worker"

Leaving the Tour to Join Mediheal
Taking on the Role of Junior Player Mentor
Chairman Kwon Oh-seop as a Strong Supporter
"I Want to Become a Communicative Leader"

"This is what it feels like to become a working professional."

Choi Hye-yong, a former KLPGA Tour Rookie of the Year, has become a working professional. After wrapping up her tour career this year, she has started a new path as a coach, teaching aspiring young golfers. Her workplace is the global cosmetic brand Mediheal. Currently, she is sweating it out with young players at the Namseoul No.1 Practice Range.

In an interview conducted on the 11th, Choi said with a bright smile, "In mid-February this year, I received my first paycheck in my bank account. It was truly amazing." She added, "I have started a new chapter in life. I ask for your interest and support."

Choi Hye-yong begins her second golf career as a mentor guiding junior hopefuls. Mediheal Golf Team

Choi Hye-yong is a veteran who competed on the KLPGA Tour until last year. Having followed an elite path, she won a gold medal in the team event at the 2006 Doha Asian Games and secured two victories in 2008 at the Lotte Mart Happy Dream Cup Women's Open and the Orient China Ladies Open, earning her the Rookie of the Year title. She decided to leave the field after the S-OIL Championship in November last year.

Choi was a founding member of the Mediheal Golf Team in 2017. She joined alongside Yoo So-yeon, who has won a total of 21 titles on the world tour. Although she did not add any more wins afterward, she earned much love from fans through consistent and diligent play. She said, "Chairman Kwon Oh-seop of L&P Cosmetic made a great offer, and I took on mentoring young talents. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to gain new experiences."

She once had a memorable match against Yoo So-yeon at the 2009 Doosan Match Play Championship, narrowly losing after nine extra holes. Choi recalled, "So-yeon was fully deserving of the win. I sincerely congratulated her." There were rumors that losing to Yoo So-yeon triggered a decline in her career, but Choi explained, "That's not true. I lost because I was lacking. So-yeon is a friend of the same age, and we still maintain a good relationship."

Choi Hyeyong is giving a putting lesson on the green at Namseoul Practice Range No. 1. Photo by Noh Worae

On August 14, she will play her retirement match at the Mediheal-Hankook Ilbo Championship held at Montvert Country Club in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. It will be her final stage wearing golf attire on the field. "I have received a lot of support as a member of the Mediheal Golf Team. Thanks to that, I can finish well. Chairman Kwon is paying close attention to my retirement match as well. I want to express my gratitude once again."

She regrets not being able to continue her playing career fully. Her desire to perform well led her to frequently change her swing, which became a hindrance. She confessed, "It is true that I feel a bit sad about retiring. I went through difficulties because I changed too many things. I struggled trying to be perfect." She added, "Still, I enjoyed my time as a golfer and had many unforgettable moments."

Choi Hye-yong’s mentor is Choi Na-yeon, who won nine LPGA Tour titles and retired in 2022 and is now active as an influencer. Currently, her YouTube channel has 357,000 subscribers. "My role model is senior Choi Na-yeon. She is very cool and has star quality. Not only her golf skills but also her innate talent."

Born in 1990, Choi Hye-yong is still unmarried. "I want to meet a good person, get married, and build a happy family. (laughs) I want to have two children. If my daughter wants to play golf, I would let her do it as a hobby, not as a profession."

Choi Hye-yong dreams of becoming a communicative leader who passes on her know-how to her juniors. Photo by Noh Rae 기자

Starting a new life, she is coaching promising players who ranked in the top six at the Mediheal KLPGA Chairman’s Cup Women’s Amateur Championship. She plans to pass on her experience and know-how from her playing days to the juniors. She said, "As a former player, I want to be a teacher who helps middle school dream talents. At first, I had many worries, but now I want to teach them as much as I can."