Two Koreas Mull Over Inter-Korea Pro Golf Match

Professional golfers will likely soon visit Pyongyang for an exhibition game.

“We have agreed with North Korean officials to hold a pro golf match in Pyongyang and we are now in talks with related agencies for details,” said Kim Jae-yeol, senior director at the Korea Pro Golfers Association who returned last week from his 6-day visit to Pyongyang.

“We agreed to hold the match in around October this year, but we did not fix the schedule,” Kim also said. “Top 10-rank men and women players and some 30 business leaders will visit Pyongyang and play at a pro golf match and an exhibition game.”

Director Kim was accompanied by Park Sang-kwon, CEO of Pyonghwa Motor, and Ahn Dae-hwan, director of the Korea Golf Club Business Association. They reportedly met with Song Ho-gyeong, Vice Chairman of the Asia Pacific Peace Committee of North Korea, to discuss exchanges of golf games including the planned exhibition match.

“The field was relatively short at about 6,300 yards, but it will make a good golf course,” said Kim, who carried his golf clubs and played for two days at Pyongyang Golf Club during the visit. “Sports officials in Pyongyang told me that they think Se Ri Pak is a good player.”

Jong-Seok Kim kjs0123@donga.com