"This Can't Be Right"...'Public Golf Courses Receiving Tax Benefits Charge Higher Green Fees'

Korea Leisure Industry Research Institute: 44 Courses Exceed Standard Green Fee
Annual Tax Reduction Estimated at 1.148 Trillion Won
Calls for Stronger Oversight of Tax-Benefited Golf Courses

It has been revealed that some public golf courses receiving tax reduction benefits are actually more expensive than membership golf courses.

According to the Korea Leisure Industry Institute on June 16, the standard green fee for public golf courses in 2026 is 199,000 won on weekdays and 259,000 won on weekends. However, the Institute pointed out that there are 44 public golf courses on weekdays (42 on weekends) that exceed this standard, accounting for 17.1% of the total 258 public golf courses with 18 holes or more.

There is a call for thorough government management and supervision of public golf courses receiving tax benefits.

According to the Leisure Industry Institute, the estimated annual tax reduction amount for public golf courses last year was 1.148 trillion won. The operating profit of 194 companies (198 courses) of public golf courses totaled 972 billion won last year. If tax reduction benefits were not provided to public golf courses, an operating loss would be expected.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, public golf courses have led the increase in green fees. In May 2021, the green fee increase rate for public golf courses reached 19.1%, which is 2.5 times higher than the green fee increase rate for non-members at membership golf courses. Although green fees at public golf courses have slightly decreased since the stabilization of COVID-19 in 2024, the decline has been minimal.

As the green fee increase rate at public golf courses significantly exceeds that of membership courses, criticism from golfers regarding public golf courses receiving tax reduction benefits continues. In November 2022, the government established a new category called 'non-membership golf courses,' but the effect of this new system has been greatly diminished because the upper limit for green fees at public golf courses was based on the 'average green fee' rather than the 'maximum green fee.'

Suh Cheonbeom, head of the Leisure Industry Institute, said, "Public golf courses receiving tax benefits should offer lower green fees and food and beverage prices compared to membership courses and implement a caddie selection system. If the government does not manage and supervise public golf courses, valuable tax money could be wasted."

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