"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 more expensive than membership-based courses.

The Korea Leisure Industry Research Institute stated on June 16, "As of 2026, the standard green fee for public golf courses is 199,000 won on weekdays and 259,000 won on weekends." The institute pointed out, "However, there are 44 public golf courses on weekdays (42 on weekends) that exceed this standard, accounting for 17.1% of all 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 Korea Leisure Industry Research Institute, the estimated annual tax reduction for public golf courses last year was 1.148 trillion won. The total operating profit of 194 companies (198 courses) operating public golf courses last year was 972 billion won. If there were no tax reduction benefits for public golf courses, operating losses 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 was 2.5 times higher than that of the non-member green fee increase rate at membership-based golf courses. Although green fees at public golf courses have been slightly reduced since 2024, as COVID-19 subsided, the decrease remains minimal.

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

Seo Cheonbeom, head of the Korea Leisure Industry Research Institute, stated, "Public golf courses receiving tax benefits should charge lower green fees and food and beverage prices than membership-based courses and should also implement a caddie selection system. If the government does not manage and supervise public golf courses, valuable tax revenue could be wasted."

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