Jeju’s Own Soo Eun Kang, Raised by Samdasoo, Breaks into the Top 10 with Her Mentor of 9 Years

Breaking Into the Top 10 Through Regional Qualifiers
Nine Years of Mentorship Overcome Injury
A Model Success for Samdasoo’s Talent Development

At the 13th Jeju Samdasoo Masters, hosted by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Development Corporation, Jeju native golfer Soo Eun Kang advanced to the tournament proper after passing a regional qualification event and, with the close support of her mentor and caddie, Pro Hyeri Seo—the coach she has worked with for nine years—has overcome an injury slump to unexpectedly tie for 7th place with a cumulative score of 7-under par. Vowing to maintain her pace through the weekend, Kang is determined to keep her focus despite the fierce competition and the many variables ahead, including the pressure from the gallery and unpredictable winds, as the battle for higher rankings heats up.

At the 1st hole of the 2nd round of the 13th Jeju Samdasoo Masters, Kang Su-eun, a native of Jeju, is powerfully teeing off, while her mentor and dedicated caddie, Pro Seo Hyeri, watches the ball’s direction from behind. Photo by Changwon Park.

According to the KLPGA leaderboard and field reporting on August 7, Soo Eun Kang is ranking among the top players of the tournament, competing on equal footing with the highest-caliber professional golfers in Korea.

Kang’s performance this time is attracting significant attention from the local sports community, precisely because it was not the result of a random invitation but was earned through her talent in a formal, highly competitive selection match. This event, held annually by Jeju Province Development Corporation, allocates spots specifically for regional golf aspirants, demonstrating their commitment to discovering local talent.

The hidden driving force behind this remarkable run is, in particular, her mentor and caddie, Pro Hyeri Seo, who has literally shouldered Kang’s bag and walked the course by her side.

The two first met in Kang’s sophomore year of high school and have cultivated a teacher-student rapport for nine years. Even when Kang plunged into a slump in the past, Seo led her to victory at the KLPGA President’s Cup in just a year, enabling her to earn her professional qualification. Seo also helped shape Kang into a pivotal figure in winning third place at the Bacchus Cup and sweeping team gold for Jeju at the 99th National Sports Festival.

When Kang struggled with injuries and swing issues earlier this spring while competing on the mainland, Seo brought her back to Jeju in April and focused on rehabilitation and mental recovery. This ultimately sparked Kang’s dramatic resurgence at this year’s Samdasoo Masters.

The critical challenge now is the final two days of weekend play that will decide the fate of the tournament.

Weekend rounds are expected to bring heavy galleries, along with Jeju’s notorious gusts, rapidly changing weather, and the need for strategic stamina management—dramatically increasing variables both on and off the course.

The pressure to maintain a top ranking could shake even a seasoned pro, but Kang and Seo, who have weathered numerous storms together over the past nine years, have fully prepared to face all the weekend’s uncertainties.

On the course, Pro Seo helps calm Kang’s nerves for the critical first tee shot and provides precise guidance on handling tricky wind conditions, consistently reinforcing mental composure and poise throughout each round.

Kang’s rise is now being hailed as an ideal example of developing regional talent—made possible by the dual factors of the region’s public-interest “entry allocation” program and the dedicated, personalized mentoring from a local coach.

In consideration of Kang’s need to stay mentally strong ahead of high-stakes weekend matches, The Asia Business Daily opted not for a direct interview, but instead confirmed the untold stories and Kang’s determination through close communication with her mentor.

Speaking with The Asia Business Daily, Pro Hyeri Seo—who serves as both Kang’s mentor and caddie—explained, “Taking Soo Eun back to Jeju after her spring injury and allowing her to train and rehabilitate in a comfortable environment helped restore her swing and stabilize her mentality. While many variables remain for the weekend’s final rounds, including large crowds and Jeju’s characteristic strong winds, I am confident that we will rely on the mutual trust and understanding built over our nine years together and deliver our own style of play to reward local fans for their support.”

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