Golf debuted at the Olympic Games in 1900 and was also a part of the 1904 Olympics. Interestingly, at the time, the Olympics had a mandate for only amateur players to participate since no money was given to the winners, only professional athletes. Thus, amateurs seemed like the right choice. Golf was technically on the schedule of the 1908 Olympics as well, but it got cancelled a few days earlier due to a dispute.
The sport of golf remained dormant at the Olympics for 112 years before making its return in 2016, after attempts were made to make it a part of the Olympic schedule since 2001. The International Golf Federation (IGF), which is the governing body for golf and was formed in 1958, changed its name to the World Amateur Golf Council (WAGC) in 2003.
South Korea’s Olympic Golf Medalists
South Korea has won one gold Olympic medal in golf. The nation stands fourth in the all-time Olympic medal table, consisting of 12 NOCs. The reason it is ranked fourth, with only one medal, is that gold medals are more significant than others.
| Year | Event | Player | Medal |
| 2016 | Individual, Women | Inbee Park | Gold |
Over the last ten years, South Korea has dominated the women's game; Inbee Park, a seven-time major winner, won gold at Rio 2016. However, she also participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but finished in 23rd place with Patty Tavatanakit, María Fassi, Klara Spilkova, Anna Nordqvist, and Leona Maguire.
According to an Olympic report in 2019, there were 21 top players on the LPGA Tour, including the likes of Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Minjee Lee of Australia, as well as American major winners Michelle Wie and Danielle Kang. The common link between them is their Korean parents.
At the 2016 Olympics, another Korean golfer, Amy Yang, finished tied for fourth place at 9 under par. Further, at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics, Lee So-Young won a gold medal in the individual girls event for Korea, and in the team events, So-Young and Youm Eun-Ho won silver.
To explain the Korean dominance in women's golf, Gonzaga University golfer Cassie Kim stated, according to the official Olympics website, "South Korean golfers have the same amount of talent, but they develop and practice their golf game more intensely than anyone else."
FAQs On List Of Golf Players Who won Medal for South Korea at Olympics
A. Yes, South Korea has hosted the Olympics two times: the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 2018 Winter Olympics. It is also the second country in Asia to host both.
A. At the Olympic Games, South Korea has won over 350 medals, the majority of which have come from the sports of wrestling, short track, judo, and archery.
A. Yes, Inbee Park is an Olympian and won a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics for South Korea.
A. Inbee Park has won seven majors and has a total of 31 professional wins, including 21 on the LPGA Tour, as of July 2024.
A. Yes. Inbee Park became the second South Korean to enter the LPGA Hall of Fame in 2016.
