Renowned South Korean golfer Park In-bee (35), often hailed as the “Golf Queen” in her home country, is gearing up for a new challenge. Her sights are set on being appointed as a member of the Athletes’ Commission by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris scheduled for July 26 to Aug. 11, 2024.
Having achieved the rare feat of a Golden Slam in golf—winning all four major championships along with an Olympic gold medal—Park emphasized the importance of unwavering dedication and perseverance in the face of challenges. “Nothing comes easy, and the teachings of golf remind me to give my best until the very end,” she said, adding, “I will approach the election with the same mindset.”
Park holds permanent seeds on The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour and the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. Despite her stature, Park said she remains committed to the sport, stating, “Retirement is not on my mind, and I will enter competitions when I am prepared to showcase top-tier skills.”
On Dec. 18, Chosunilbo had the opportunity to speak with Park at her residence in Seoul, delving into her personal life, perspective on the future of Korean women’s golf, and vision for the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
Park welcomed her daughter In-seo into the world on April 20 this year. When asked about her experiences with motherhood, she responded with a smile, saying, “It seems like I have a disposition for pregnancy and parenting.” Park revealed that she never experienced morning sickness and did not feel any irritation during her daughter’s late-night feedings. Reflecting on those early days, she expressed nostalgia, saying, “I miss the time when I couldn’t sleep well for three months.”
Looking ahead, Park shared her thoughts on the possibility of In-seo following in her footsteps, considering her and her father’s golfing background. Park’s husband Nam Gi-hyeob was also a member of the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association. “While I used to think golf was too challenging and hesitated to introduce it before, now, if it’s something my child loves, I’m willing to support her wholeheartedly,” she said.
For years, the global dominance of Korean women’s golf, led by legends like Pak Se-ri and Park In-bee, has gradually declined. Reflecting on this trend, Park remarked, “The current downturn is a result of a gradual decrease in the number of players challenging the global stage, as the KLPGA Tour has become more competitive over the past 5-10 years.” She encouraged her fellow players by asserting, “Even now, Korean female players possess world-class competitiveness.” She said, “It’s a matter of restoring the mindset to challenge on the global stage.”
Pointing out the emergence of foreign players, particularly from Thailand and China, on the global stage at a young age, Park explained that this scene was a reversal of roles compared to a decade ago when Korean female golfers took the lead. Despite challenges faced by Korean women’s golf during the pandemic, she emphasized that it is gradually recovering.
Park has been named among the 32 new candidates for the IOC Athletes’ Commission, as announced by the IOC on their website on Nov. 30. The IOC selected these finalists from a pool of 130 candidates worldwide who submitted their applications over the past two months.
The ultimate four IOC Athletes’ Commission members will be elected during next year’s Paris Olympics through a vote of over 10,000 athletes, yielding a competitive ratio of 8 to 1. According to the Associated Press (AP), notable candidates include Allyson Felix of the United States, a seven-time gold medalist in track and field since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and Park In-bee, a golf gold medalist at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics with seven major victories.
Expressing her thoughts on the nomination, Park said, “While golf is something I excel in personally, participating in an election is an entirely new challenge for me as a candidate representing Korea.”
“I am diligently preparing for even the smallest details,” she said.
This article was originally published on Dec. 19, 2023.
