Oversupply in Jeju, Shortages in Yeongnam... 'Imbalance' in South Korea's Golf Course Distribution

Oversupply of Golf Courses in Jeju and Honam Regions
Rapid Increase in Golf Courses Exposes Issues in Gangwon Province
Ongoing Shortage of Golf Courses in Yeongnam and the Seoul Metropolitan Area

The regional supply imbalance of golf courses in Korea is becoming increasingly severe. While Jeju Island and the Honam region are facing an oversupply that exceeds local demand, the Yeongnam region and the Seoul metropolitan area continue to suffer from a chronic shortage. As a result, the gap in supply and demand across regions is becoming more pronounced.

According to the "Leisure White Paper 2026" published by the Korea Leisure Industry Institute on June 15, Jeju Island and the Honam region were found to have an excessive supply of golf courses compared to the number of users. The main factor behind this was the influx of golfers from the metropolitan area into Jeju and Honam during 2022, when overseas golf travel was virtually halted at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The institute analyzed that if the difference between the national share of golf courses in a region and the national share of users is negative (-), it indicates a supply shortage, while a positive (+) figure indicates oversupply.

With the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for overseas golf travel has surged, hitting golf courses in Jeju Island and the Honam region hard. Last year, the gap between Jeju's share of golf courses and its share of users was +2.3 percentage points, making it the region with the most severe oversupply in the country. The Honam region also recorded a +1.3 percentage point difference, marking it as another area with a significant oversupply, second only to Jeju.

Gangwon Province also showed a +2.2 percentage point gap last year, making it the region with the second most severe oversupply of golf courses. However, analysts noted that in Gangwon, the actual number of operational days is about two months shorter than in the southern regions due to heavy snowfall and cold waves in winter, which may statistically exaggerate the appearance of oversupply.

In contrast, the Yeongnam region was identified as the area with the greatest shortage of golf courses nationwide. Last year, Yeongnam's share of the country's golf courses was 21.1%, but its share of users was 25.6%. The resulting gap of -4.5 percentage points represented the largest supply shortfall in the country.

The regional supply imbalance of golf courses in Korea has been identified as a problem.

The Seoul metropolitan area, which has the largest golfing population, showed a similar trend. Last year, the region's share of golf courses nationwide was 33.9%, while its share of users was 34.6%, resulting in a gap of -0.7 percentage points. This made it the area with the second most severe supply shortage, following Yeongnam.

The institute projected that the increase in golf demand, which began during the COVID-19 era, is unlikely to be resolved in the near future. Although around 60 new golf courses are scheduled to open nationwide between 2026 and 2029, it is highly likely that the actual number will fall short of this plan due to factors such as deteriorating profitability and stricter licensing regulations.

Seo Cheonbeom, head of the Korea Leisure Industry Institute, stated, "In areas at risk of depopulation and those affected by wildfires, it is necessary to significantly ease regulations on golf course construction to address the supply shortage. It is also time for the Seoul metropolitan area to reasonably adjust licensing regulations and consider expanding golf course supply."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.