Men’s Golf Aims for Sweep at the Asian Games... Repeat of 2010 Guangzhou?

Kim Joohyung, Kim Seonghyeon, and Moon Doyeop Form a Powerhouse Lineup
Sharpening Skills at Presidents Cup and KPGA Tournaments
"Our Goal Is Gold in Both Individual and Team Events"

The atmosphere is positive. This is the story of the 'strongest in Asia' Korean national team players participating in the golf event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

The golf event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will be held from September 30 to October 3 at the Higashi Course of Kasugai Country Club in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Four gold medals will be awarded across men's and women's individual and team events. Each country can field three players. Both professional and amateur players are eligible to participate in this year's competition. To date, Korea has won a total of 14 gold medals (6 for men and 8 for women) at the Asian Games.

For men's golf, the top three players were selected according to the world rankings. Kim Juhyung and Kim Sunghyun, currently active on the US PGA Tour, and Moon Doyeop, who plays for LIV Golf, have earned national team spots. For women's golf, national team members Yang Yunseo, Park Seojin, and Kim Kyubin will compete.

Kim Juhyung, ranked 30th in the world, took on the role of ace at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Photo by KGA

Korea first participated in men's golf at the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games. The team swept all four gold medals (men's and women's individual and team events) at the 2006 Doha and 2010 Guangzhou Games. However, their dominance in Asia was challenged by strong competitors from Japan and Thailand in the years that followed.

Men's golf experienced a resurgence at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, held in 2023. With the participation of professional players permitted, PGA Tour members Kim Siwoo and Lim Sungjae, as well as then-amateurs Jang Yoobin and Cho Wooyoung, competed and won the gold medal in the team event. Lim Sungjae also added a silver medal in the individual event.

The men's golf team is aiming to win gold in both the individual and team events at this Asian Games. Since Kim Minhui (who became a double champion), Lee Kyunghoon, Park Ilhwan, and Lee Jaehyuk secured two gold medals at the 2010 Guangzhou Games, the team is looking to achieve victories in two disciplines for the first time in 16 years.

Kim Juhyung, ranked 30th in the world, leads the charge. In 2022, he became the second-youngest player (at 20 years and 3 months) in PGA Tour history to win two tournaments, and in 2023, he became the youngest player in 26 years to win three times since 'golf legend' Tiger Woods of the US. Although Kim Juhyung had a tough time last year, he claimed the title at the Genesis Scottish Open last month. It was his fourth career PGA Tour win, and came 33 months after his previous victory at the Shriners Children's Open in October 2023.

Kim Juhyung also qualified for the final round of the Playoffs (TOUR Championship) and, after a short break, will participate in the Presidents Cup from September 24 to 27—a competition between the US team and the International team (excluding Europe)—as his final preparation. He is scheduled to fly to Japan after this tournament.

Sung Hyun Kim won a gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and is hoping for military service benefits. Photo by KPGA

Kim Sunghyun is also a strong candidate to win two gold medals. He picked up one victory each in Korea and Japan and topped the money list on the 2022 PGA Korn Ferry (secondary) Tour. After debuting on the PGA Tour in 2023, he briefly returned to the Korn Ferry Tour last year, but is back on the main tour this year. As he has not yet completed his military service, Kim Sunghyun received an extension of 90 days for overseas travel from the Military Manpower Administration earlier this year. After playing at the Valero Texas Open in April, he returned to Korea and is currently competing on the KPGA Tour.

Kim Sunghyun has also made a strong impression on the domestic tour, achieving five top-10 finishes, including runner-up at the KPGA Gunsan CC Open in June. He plans to adjust his condition by competing in Korean tournaments until his departure for Japan. "I am very honored to represent my country. I will fulfill my responsibilities and do my best," he said. He added, "My overall condition and feel for my shots are in good shape. Of course, my goal is to win a gold medal."

Experienced Do-Yeop Moon plays the role of the eldest member in the representative team. Photo by KPGA

Moon Doyeop serves as the eldest member of the team. Born in 1991, he is the oldest member of the national squad. He has a total of six career wins on the KPGA Tour, with two victories last year and one this year. In May, he joined the Korean Golf Club of the LIV Golf League. "By competing on both the LIV Golf and the KPGA Tour in the second half of the season, I am maintaining my tournament rhythm," he said, adding, "I am determined to win gold medals in both the individual and team events at the Asian Games."

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