"Thank You to Everyone Who Helped"... "Dad! Where Are We Going?" Song Jia Becomes a Professional Golfer

Song Jia Earns Full KLPGA Tour Membership
From "Song Jongkook's Daughter" to Professional Golfer
A New Chapter Begins with Official Tour Status

Song Jia (18), the daughter of former football player Song Jongkook and actress Park Yeonsu, has obtained full membership in the KLPGA (Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association).

Speaking with Yonhap News Agency on August 19, Song Jia said, "There is still a long way to go," adding, "My first goal is to enter the second-tier tour and then move up to the first-tier tour."

She continued, "Joining the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) in the United States is also one of my goals. Ultimately, I want to find the meaning of my life through golf," she emphasized. "I hope to shed the label of 'Song Jongkook's daughter' and become someone who has a positive influence on many people as professional golfer Song Jia."

Song Jia, who became a full member of the KLPGA. Instagram

Previously, Park Yeonsu shared photos of Song Jia on her social media. She wrote, "When Jia was in 5th or 6th grade, she was with an entertainment agency, but then she said she wanted to become a golfer, so she entered a golf academy in her first year of middle school. It feels like just yesterday that she registered as a player for the first time and played her first tournament at Sollago Country Club, and now, after six years, she has become a full member. I can hardly believe it."

She added, "We spent so much time worrying and crying because we had almost no tournament experience, but now we can put that behind us. I want to show that even if you start late, you can do well if you prepare properly. Songaji (Song Jia's nickname), you really worked hard. Thank you to everyone who helped us."

Song Jia Becomes a Full Member of the KLPGA

Professional golfer JiA Song. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

To become a full member of the KLPGA, one must be a Korean national, pass the full member selection test or meet the special admission requirements, and complete the required training. Full members are eligible to participate in official tournaments such as the KLPGA Tour and Dream Tour, marking the start of their professional golfing careers.

On August 6, at the KLPGA 2024 Sollago Jump Tour (third-tier tour) 12th event (total prize money: 30 million won), held at Sollago Country Club (par 72) in Taean, Chungnam, Song Jia finished tied for 11th with a two-round total of 5-under-par 139. As a result, she ranked 10th in the season's prize money standings (2,726,650 won), earning her full membership status.

Born in 2007, Song Jia appeared with her father Song Jongkook on MBC's "Dad! Where Are We Going?" and was loved by the public. She dreamed of becoming an entertainer until elementary school, but in her first year of middle school, she began playing golf and has since devoted herself fully to training.