[Golf Inc.] Chairman Young-chan Kim Honored as Asia’s No.1 in Golf Industry Influence for Second Consecutive Year

• Named No.1 for the second consecutive year among the ‘Most Powerful People in the Asian Golf Industry’ announced by U.S. golf industry magazine ‘Golf Inc’
• Providing golf simulator products perfected with unrivaled technology to over 7,700 screen golf venues across 63 countries worldwide
• GOLFZON established its U.S. subsidiary ‘GOLFZON America’ to open a gateway into the North American market through a glocalization strategy

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

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

Golf Inc explained the reason for its selection, stating, ‘Since its first overseas expansion in 2009, GOLFZON has provided golf simulator products perfected with unrivaled technology to over 7,700 screen golf venues across 63 countries worldwide,’ adding, ‘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 Young-chan Kim has steadily carried out social contribution activities and elevated the status of Korean golf to a higher level by establishing the GOLFZON Foundation in 2010 to support artists and cultural figures and to assist and serve underprivileged groups in local communities, and by founding the Yuwon Golf Foundation in 2015 to nurture promising golf talent and players and to promote the publication of the ‘Golf Industry White Paper’ for the development of the golf industry.

Chairman Young-chan Kim of GOLFZON Newdin Group said, “I am honored that GOLFZON has been recognized for expanding the golf base by confidently advancing onto the world stage as well as at home, allowing me to be named among the most powerful people every year,” adding, “Going forward, we will continue to pursue creative technology development based on GOLFZON Newdin Group’s own technological capabilities, and contribute to the development of the domestic and overseas golf industry as a global golf platform company.”

In May 2000, Chairman Young-chan Kim founded the screen golf venture company ‘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 a gateway into the North American market and developing its business through a glocalization strategy. In February last year, it opened the first ‘GOLFZON Social,’ a complex golf cultural space with a sports pub concept, at Palisades Center in New York, and in August it opened a second branch in Scarsdale, New York, with plans to lead with the GOLFZON Social business model in pursuing aggressive investment and marketing in the North American market.

GOLFZON County, the field golf course operating company, continued its standing as a comprehensive golf course service company operating the largest number of holes in Korea, 450 holes (20 golf courses), after adding the leased operation of GOLFZON County The Golf in November last year. In the case of GOLFZON Commerce, a golf equipment distribution specialist, it operates 108 GOLFZON Market offline stores nationwide, and provides GOLFZON Market’s differentiated services such as the fitting center ‘Trufit,’ which recommends customized clubs for individuals, and the used club specialty store ‘GOLFZON Market Iwoot.’

■ Chosun Ilbo, p. A22 (24/04/03)

■ Dong-A Ilbo, p. A24 (24/04/03)

■ Hankyung (Korea Economic Daily), p. A28 (24/04/03)

■ JoongAng Ilbo, p. A18 (24/04/02)