If I were the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism: <Planning Series> ②
Korea's golf industry is at a loss due to various regulations
The late Goo Ok-hee, Pak Se-ri, Kim Mi-hyun, Choi Kyung-ju, Park In-bee, Yang Yong-eun, Kim In-kyung, Shin Ji-ae, Choi Na-yeon, Ko Jin-young, Park Sung-hyun, Chun In-gee, Kim Hyo-joo, Kim Si-woo, and so on... The mere mention of these names excites any golfer. They are Korea's leading male and female golfers who have conquered the world stage with their bare fists despite all kinds of bad conditions. Notably, in 2021, Ko Jin-young won her 200th career LPGA title by winning the BMW Raiders Championship on the PGA Tour in Busan, showing that Korean women are the world's top class. Many aspiring golfers are following in their footsteps and making strong strides to challenge themselves on the world stage.
Influenced by these star players, the golf boom began in Korea after 2000 in line with the 1999 Kim Dae Jung government's declaration to popularize golf. The number of general amateur golfers as well as professional players has been on the rise, and the number of golf courses has been increasing significantly. Now, 6 million people, or 12% of the population of 50 million, are enjoying golf. With the entry into force of Presidential Emergency Measure No. 3 in 1974, golf was regarded as a luxury sport, and the golf industry was stifled by various regulations, including the suppression of the construction of golf courses.
"Golf population 6 million... It's no longer a luxury industry"
When Korea's per capita income was only 100,000 won in 1970, it was extremely reasonable to designate golf as a luxury industry. However, now we are living in a completely different world from the 1970s. According to a report by the Bank of Korea, the per capita gross national income (GNI) in 2022 was 42.23 million won, up 4.3 percent year-on-year from 40.482 million won. In 50 years, the standard of living in Korea has truly improved to the point that heaven and earth have opened. As the Republic of Korea has joined the ranks of advanced countries, golf should no longer be treated as a luxury industry but as a popular sport.
In line with the rapidly increasing number of golfing population as the economy grows, many golf courses have been created. According to the Korea Golf Association, the number of golf course users increased by 16.0% annually from 1980 to 1990, the number of golf course users increased by 12.5% annually from 1990 to 2000, and the number of golf course users increased by 8.3% annually from 2001 to 2010. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is almost explosive.
Although the government's policies had to be aligned in order to foster the popularized golf industry, the government only came up with fragmentary and outdated measures. Golf courses are exploiting these deficiencies in the law and system, profiteering and abusing their power. For this reason, golfers' complaints and complaints are everywhere. As the number of golfers going on overseas expeditions has soared as the coronavirus has eased, the scale of foreign currency outflows is snowballing. Not only golfers but also the people are calling for urgent appropriate measures. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which is in charge of policy affairs in the golf industry, should no longer sit idle or sit on the sidelines. We need to roll up our sleeves quickly.
"The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which is in charge of the golf industry"
If I were the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, I would form and operate a "joint task force for the golf industry policy" that encompasses central government ministries, local governments, and related organizations to find out the fundamental problems of the Korean golf industry and take measures. After seeking cooperation from the President's Office and the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Fair Trade Commission, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the National Tax Service, the prosecution, the police, the National Assembly's Legislative Investigation Office, the Korea Consumer Protection Agency, each local government, and the Korea Golf Club Management Association, if necessary, will participate in the task force.
The task force's goal should be clear. Recognizing that golf is no longer a luxury industry but a popular sport, the government should provide an institutional mechanism for all citizens to enjoy golf without burden. The golf industry, such as the golf course, should also help it systematically discover policies that create stable and sustainable conditions. Golfers who cannot endure such high-cost policies as expensive as green fees are forced to leave domestic golf courses. Numerous Korean golfers have already begun to move to Japan and Southeast Asia in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. If this phenomenon intensifies, the management crisis at golf courses just before the coronavirus outbreak begins again.
"May Korean golf courses be reborn as a corporate group loved by the people"
The joint policy task force should operate for at least a year or two to come up with comprehensive and reliable measures to normalize the golf industry. It is imperative to involve experts in devising thorough and effective measures. Rather than paying extremely high costs compared to overseas golf courses such as Japan and Southeast Asia, guidelines for anyone to enjoy golf at a reasonable cost should also be presented. In addition, from the perspective of golf courses, it is important to take this opportunity to become a group of companies loved by the people rather than being criticized for being looted as they are now.
The joint policy task force should also publish a white paper that will serve as a report upon completion of its activities. Government-related ministries should complete legislation by enacting laws and regulations with the National Assembly based on this white paper. Looking back, the government has focused on regulating the golf industry, including golf courses. It is safe to say that the tendency to be considered guilty of entering golf courses also stems from the government's wrong policy on golf courses. Despite the dramatic improvement in people's living standards, he made the mistake of looking at the golf industry at the level when he was still worried about eating. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism should no longer turn a blind eye to proper golf course policies.
Today, we looked at the theme of "If I were the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism" in the planning series, "Let's operate a joint golf industry policy task force."
The Story of Maudae’s life and golf continues.
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