[ChosunBiz] GOLFZON Announces Results of 2017 Korea Golf Population Survey

Citing survey results released by GOLFZON and the research firm Macromill Embrain, the Chosun Ilbo reported that Korea’s golf population reached 4.69 million last year, a 21% increase compared with 2016. The field golf population rose 12% to 2.64 million, and the screen golf population rose 23% to 3.51 million, marking the largest increase in the past six years. By age group, golfers in their 40s made up the largest share at 32.6%, while the proportion of golfers in their 20s rose from 6.4% to 9.6%.

The Chosun Ilbo reported that, with the spread of screen golf, the share of golfers with average monthly household incomes in the 3-million-won and 2-million-won ranges each increased, indicating that the growth in the golf population was particularly notable among relatively lower-income groups. It noted that 29% of all golfers had a household income of less than 4 million won.

The Chosun Ilbo reported that, according to GOLFZON, golf—once regarded as the exclusive pastime of the wealthy—is establishing itself as a popular sport enjoyed by people across a range of income levels through the spread of screen golf.