Lotte Group to Develop Yoo Hyunjo as the 'Second Kim Hyojoo'

Grand Prize Winner of Last Year's KLPGA Tour Signed as Free Agent
Three-Year Contract Guaranteed Until 2028
Debut in Lotte Cap at March Season Opener in Thailand

Lotte Group has signed Yoo Hyunjo.

On January 5, Lotte Group held a signing ceremony at Lotte World Tower in Songpa-gu, Seoul, and announced that it had entered into a sponsorship contract with Yoo Hyunjo, who won the Grand Prize on the 2025 Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. The contract runs through 2028. Starting this year, Yoo Hyunjo will compete wearing the Lotte Group cap.

Yoo Hyunjo, a former national team member, won a silver medal in the team event and a bronze medal in the individual event at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. She debuted on the 2024 KLPGA Tour, claimed victory at the major KB Financial Star Championship, and received the Rookie of the Year award. Last year, she successfully defended her KB Financial Star Championship title. Yoo Hyunjo is the first player in KLPGA Tour history to win a major championship as a rookie and then win the same tournament again the following year.

Yoo Hyunjo is taking a commemorative photo after signing a sponsorship contract with Lotte Group. Photo by Daehong Communications

She had an outstanding year last year, finishing in the top 10 a total of 19 times and capturing the KLPGA Tour Grand Prize with 681 points. She also ranked first in average strokes per round with 69.9368. In the prize money rankings, she placed third, earning 1,277,802,481 won. Yoo Hyunjo said, "I am truly grateful to be able to join with the support and trust of Lotte Group," and added, "I want to showcase strong performances like fellow Lotte Golf Team members Kim Hyojoo and Choi Hyejin, and become a golfer who represents Korea."

Lotte Group is fully committed to golf marketing. It sponsors Kim Hyojoo, Choi Hyejin, and Hwang Yoomin, who compete on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour. Now, with the addition of Yoo Hyunjo and amateur Sung Haein, the Lotte Golf Team has expanded further. Lotte Group also hosts the KLPGA Tour Lotte Open and the LPGA Tour Lotte Championship. Yoo Hyunjo will make her debut wearing the Lotte cap at the KLPGA Tour 2026 season opener, the Rejuran Championship, to be held in Thailand this March.