Spend 100 Million Won, Earn Just 26 Million in Prize Money... The Harsh Reality of the KLPGA's Second-Tier Tour

Even winning the Dream Tour money title leaves players in the red
Accommodation, training and lesson costs add financial pressure
Few can find a main sponsor, leaving them dependent on parental support

Players lose money even when they win, and even when they are promoted to the top-tier tour. This is the harsh reality facing players on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Dream Tour, the second-tier circuit. A year of competing on tour costs between 50 million and 100 million won, but players struggle even to cover their expenses with prize money. The structure leaves even top players worrying about losses. Players unable to find sponsors depend on financial support from their parents as they fight to stay in the game.

According to the KLPGA on October 19, the Dream Tour has continued to grow in scale, with more tournaments and larger prize purses in recent years. Since Chairman Kim Sangyeol returned last year, players have had more opportunities to compete, and the "Dream Winter Tour" was also launched to help them maintain their form during the off-season. Three tournaments have been held this year. These changes are welcome for players, but the tour's revenue structure remains poor.

Hwang Yuna, last year's Dream Tour money leader, earned 58,294,042 won after competing in 21 tournaments and recording three wins. Go Jiwon, who ranked 10th in prize money, earned 30,211,833 won, while Hong Yeeun, in 15th place, earned just 26,039,511 won. Even finishing 15th, the cutoff for automatic promotion to the regular tour, is not enough to cover tour expenses.

Joo Gain has earned 47,505,954 won on this year's KLPGA Dream Tour, leading the money rankings. Provided by KLPGA.

The situation is little different this year. Joo Gain, the money leader, has earned 47,505,954 won despite recording two wins. Only three players have earned more than 40 million won this year, including runner-up Gil Yeram (46,559,000 won) and third-place Jeong Jihyo (40,083,000 won). Kang Chaeyeon, in 10th place, earned 31,630,155 won, while Son Yeonjeong, in 15th, earned 26,266,602 won. Although the tournaments have grown in scale compared with last year, the money leader's earnings have actually declined.

The problem is the enormous cost of running a tour campaign. Overseas training, accommodation, tournament entry and lessons cost between 50 million and 100 million won a year. That makes it difficult to turn a profit even for players near the top of the money rankings. Securing a main sponsor is also difficult, leaving many players reliant on support from their parents. Families repeatedly take on financial burdens so that one player can pursue a dream.

The reality on the third-tier Jump Tour is even tougher. This year's money leader, Kim Dohee, earned just 14,583,000 won. This is why Dream Tour and Jump Tour players are eager to reach the regular tour as soon as possible.

But reaching the top tier does not guarantee a stable income. "Super rookie" Kim Minsol, the KLPGA regular tour's money leader this year, has earned more than 1.5 billion won after three wins this season. She has secured a main sponsor as well as equipment and apparel sponsorships, gaining both wealth and fame.

However, the impressive results of top-ranked players do not reflect the reality of the tour as a whole. Jo Ayeon, ranked 60th in prize money—the cutoff for retaining a regular-tour card—has earned 153.54 million won. Given the various expenses involved, maintaining a stable career without sponsorship is no easy feat. Some players have to supplement their income by giving lessons.

Rookie Kim Minsol has earned more than 1.5 billion won in prize money on the KLPGA Tour this year. Photo courtesy of KLPGA.

Commentator Kim Haneul said, "The second-tier tour has grown in scale and its prize money has increased, but there is still a lot that is lacking. Competing on tour involves considerable costs, and second-tier players also have to pay green fees." She added, "The number of players who can compete on the top-tier tour is limited. I hope the second- and third-tier tours become more active so that more players can compete with greater stability."

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