Korean golfers weigh overseas options as domestic boom cools

Korean golfers are becoming more selective as South Korea’s pandemic-era golf boom slows, comparing domestic courses with overseas golf trips, according to The Korea Times.

The shift reflects a change in how golfers judge value: not just by green fees, but by total travel costs, course quality and the broader experience.

South Korea’s golf market is cooling after several years of rapid growth during the pandemic, when domestic courses grew crowded and prices rose as overseas travel was restricted, The Korea Times reported.

Younger Koreans helped fuel the boom by treating golf as both a sport and a lifestyle, according to the article. But as international travel resumed, golfers again gained access to courses in Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and other destinations.

Jeju Island shows the change clearly. Golf visits there peaked at nearly 2.9 million in 2021, then fell to about 2.2 million in 2025, with declines among both outside visitors and Jeju residents, The Korea Times reported.

Kang Seung-woo, business desk editor at The Korea Times, wrote that golfers are no longer judging courses only by the price of a round. The article framed the old question as, “How much does it cost to play?” and the new one as, “What do I get for that money?”

The article said Korean golf courses now compete not only with nearby courses but also with overseas destinations and broader travel experiences. It said weekday discounts and promotional packages alone may not be enough to reverse the change in consumer behavior.

For golfers, the decision is increasingly less about buying 18 holes and more about choosing the best overall experience, The Korea Times reported.