[Golf Inc.] GOLFZON GROUP’s Kim Young-Chan Named No. 1 on Golf Inc.’s 2026 Most Powerful People in Asian Golf

Golf Inc.’s May/June 2026 issue reported that it named Kim Young-Chan, Founder and Chairman of GOLFZON GROUP, the No. 1 most powerful person in Asian golf for 2026. The outlet noted that Kim leads a global business operating in more than 60 countries, with over 100 million rounds played in the past year.

Golf Inc. reported that GOLFZON’s North American expansion gained momentum through the opening of GOLFZON Social venues in Scarsdale and Brooklyn, New York, and Oak Brook, Chicago. The outlet stated that Kim introduced CITYGOLF, an urban golf concept, at the 2025 PGA Show, and that GOLFZON continued promoting the concept at the 2026 PGA Show while launching its GDR MAX simulator.

According to Golf Inc., GOLFZON has signed partnerships to bring CITYGOLF to North America, including plans for the GOLFZON Open, a tournament to be hosted within CITYGOLF venues.

Golf Inc. also reported that Kim has emphasized social impact through the GOLFZON Cultural Foundation, which supports underserved communities and cultural initiatives in Korea, including the Hope & Happiness Sharing Festival, the “Draw and Dream” Exhibition in Daejeon, and a Charity Golf Tournament. The foundation received the Presidential Citation in the corporate category at the 2017 Korea Volunteer Awards, the outlet noted.

Golf Inc. concluded that Kim’s leadership reflects a combination of technology, global expansion, and new-format development that continues to influence how golf is played and experienced worldwide.