[2025 Audit] Assemblywoman Sohn Sol Requests Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to Inspect KPGA

Overtime and Union Suppression at KPGA Raised
Need for Oversight to Normalize Association Operations

Sohn Sol, a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from the Progressive Party, requested the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to conduct an administrative inspection of the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA).

Sohn Sol, a lawmaker from the Progressive Party, requested the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to conduct an administrative inspection of the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA). Yonhap News Agency

On October 27, during the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit, Assemblywoman Sohn stated, "The KPGA is plagued with issues such as prolonged overtime work and suppression of labor unions." She added, "As the supervisory authority responsible for overseeing the non-profit KPGA, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism needs to conduct an administrative inspection to normalize the association's operations."

She pointed out, "There have been extreme cases of overtime work among full-time employees at the KPGA, with weekly working hours reaching 91 hours and 11 minutes, and 80 hours and 53 minutes." She further criticized, "Even among the youth interns hired through the professional sports youth internship program supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, there have been cases of exceeding the 52-hour workweek, effectively exploiting young people through a government-funded program."

She also criticized that over the past five years, the number of full-time employees decreased from 25 to 21, while the number of interns increased from 4 to 8, resulting in decreased job security and the replacement of full-time positions with youth interns.

Assemblywoman Sohn emphasized, "The KPGA disciplined a victim who reported workplace harassment, but the grounds for the disciplinary action were statements forcibly obtained by the perpetrator of the harassment." She added, "During the disciplinary process, a member of the disciplinary committee defended the perpetrator by saying things like, 'It's normal in the workplace for a superior to yell or scold,' effectively excusing the harassment."