GOLFZON Newdin Group Chairman Kim Young-chan Named No. 1 Among ‘Asia’s Most Powerful People in the Golf Industry’ for Two Consecutive Years

• Selected No. 1 for the second consecutive year on the U.S. golf industry magazine ‘Golf Inc’s’ list of ‘Asia’s Most Powerful People’
• Delivers golf simulator products built on unrivaled technology to more than 7,700 screen golf stores across 63 countries worldwide
• GOLFZON established its U.S. subsidiary ‘GOLFZON America’ to open up channels for entering the U.S. market through a glocalization strategy

GOLFZON Newdin Group Chairman Kim Young-chan has earned the honor of being named No. 1 on the U.S. golf magazine Golf Inc.’s list of the ‘Asian golf industry’s most powerful people of 2024,’ following his top ranking in 2023.

In its combined March-April issue published on the 25th of last month, Golf Inc introduced Chairman Kim Young-chan of GOLFZON Newdin Group as No. 1 among the ‘most powerful people in the Asian golf industry of 2024,’ in recognition of his major contributions to popularizing golf in Korea and advancing the global golf industry by bringing to the world screen golf, which combines golf, IT, and culture.

Golf Inc explained its selection by noting, ‘Since its first overseas expansion in 2009, GOLFZON has provided golf simulator products built on unrivaled technology to more than 7,700 screen golf stores across 63 countries worldwide,’ adding that ‘44,000 GOLFZON simulators are in operation at home and abroad (as of February 2024), and a total of 97 million rounds were played annually at home and abroad as of 2023.’

In addition, Chairman Kim Young-chan established the GOLFZON Foundation in 2010 to support cultural and artistic figures and to provide assistance and volunteer activities for vulnerable groups in local communities, and in 2015 founded the Yuwon Golf Foundation to nurture promising young golfers and players and to drive the publication of a ‘Golf Industry White Paper’ for the development of the golf industry—consistently carrying out social contribution activities and elevating the standing of Korean golf to a higher level.

GOLFZON Newdin Group Chairman Kim Young-chan stated, “I consider it an honor to be recognized year after year as an influential figure, with GOLFZON earning acclaim for confidently advancing onto the world stage as well as at home and expanding the foundation of golf,” adding, “Going forward, we will continue to pursue creative technology development based on GOLFZON Newdin Group’s own technological capabilities and contribute to the advancement of the domestic and overseas golf industry as a global golf platform company.”

In May 2000, Chairman Kim Young-chan founded the screen golf venture ‘GOLFZON’ and grew it into GOLFZON Newdin Group, which now operates businesses including field golf, golf equipment distribution, and golf academies. Today, GOLFZON Newdin Group continues to grow as a global golf platform company with approximately 2,400 employees at its headquarters.

GOLFZON established its U.S. subsidiary ‘GOLFZON America’ to serve as a base for opening up channels and developing its business in the U.S. market through a glocalization strategy. In February of last year, it opened the first location of ‘GOLFZON Social,’ a sports pub-concept complex golf culture space, at New York’s Palisades Center, and in August opened its second location in Scarsdale, New York, with plans to pursue aggressive investment and marketing in the U.S. market led by the GOLFZON Social business model.

GOLFZON County, a field golf course operating company, added the leased operation of GOLFZON County The Golf in November of last year, continuing its standing as a total golf course service company operating the largest number of holes in Korea at 450 holes (20 golf courses). GOLFZON Commerce, a specialized golf equipment distribution company, operates GOLFZON Market offline stores at 108 locations nationwide and provides differentiated services unique to GOLFZON Market, such as the ‘Trufit’ fitting center that recommends customized clubs for each individual and the used club specialty store ‘GOLFZON Market Iwoot.’