Shortage of Golf Courses in Seoul Metropolitan and Yeongnam Regions Continues
Up to 111 New Courses Needed by 2028
It has been found that the regions with a shortage of golf courses compared to the number of users are the Seoul metropolitan area and the Yeongnam region.
According to "Leisure White Paper TV," operated by the Korea Leisure Industry Research Institute on July 1, the Yeongnam region was found to have the most severe shortage of golf courses. The gap between the proportion of golf courses and users widened from -3.2 in 2019 to -3.6 last year. The shortage of golf courses is the most serious in the country.
The regions with a shortage of domestic golf courses were found to be the Seoul metropolitan area and the Yeongnam region.
In the Seoul metropolitan area, which has the largest golf population, the gap between the proportion of golf courses and users narrowed from -2.3 in 2019 to -1.5 last year, but the number of golf courses remains insufficient. As a result, golfers in the metropolitan area are traveling to Gangwon and Chungcheong regions, where green fees are lower, to avoid difficulties in booking tee times.
In contrast, the Honam region and Jeju Island are experiencing an oversupply of golf courses. In 2022, when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak and overseas golf travel was suspended, many golfers from the metropolitan area traveled to Jeju and Honam. However, after the pandemic ended, overseas golf travel surged, resulting in a negative impact on golf courses in Jeju and Honam.
It is expected that the excess demand for golf in Korea will be difficult to resolve for a considerable period. Although a total of 80 new golf courses are planned to open from this year until the end of 2029, stricter regulations on golf course construction permits are likely to reduce the actual number of new courses. By year, six courses opened last year, 5.5 are expected to open this year, and 18.5 are projected to open next year.
Due to the insufficient supply of golf courses, reductions in green fees have been minimal, and the high-cost structure of golf continues. According to "Leisure White Paper 2025," even if all golf courses currently under construction or in progress are completed, it is estimated that at least 71 and up to 111 additional 18-hole golf courses will be needed by the end of 2028.
Seo Cheonbeom, head of the Leisure Industry Research Institute, stated, "Current regulations on golf course construction only protect the interests of a small number of golf course owners and are effectively taking money from the wallets of 5.5 million golfers. The way for golf courses and golfers to coexist is to significantly ease regulations on golf course construction." He pointed out, "The shortage of golf courses in the metropolitan area is the most severe, but metropolitan golfers are traveling to Gangwon and Chungcheong to avoid booking difficulties. In reality, the shortage in the metropolitan area is even more serious."
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