The golf course industry is grappling with countermeasures amid a rapidly changing business environment.
The Korea Golf Course Business Association announced on the 26th that it held its 167th board meeting at the Korea Golf Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 25th. The meeting covered detailed analysis of industry impacts and response preparations regarding declining visitor numbers, worsening business conditions, the "Yellow Envelope Law" set to take effect on March 10, and the worker presumption system pending in the National Assembly.
In particular, the association plans to strengthen field support by holding briefing sessions across eight regional zones to minimize risks from labor law revisions, distributing inspection guides for collective agreements and employment rules, and preparing a standard caddy operation contract.
The association also resolved to operate dedicated bodies—the "Property Tax Heavy Tax Rate Reduction Promotion Council" and the "Individual Consumption Tax Abolition Promotion Council"—to alleviate excessive tax burdens on membership golf courses.
"We will provide comprehensive support, including holding briefing sessions and establishing an advisory system, to prevent confusion among member companies due to changes in the labor environment," said Choi Dong-ho, Chairman of the Korea Golf Course Business Association. "We will focus our capabilities on ensuring the golf industry firmly establishes itself as a central pillar of the sports and leisure industry, with improving institutional shortcomings as our top priority."
At the board meeting, the 2025 business analysis and accounting settlement were approved, and Shim Gyu-yeol, Director of the Korea Turfgrass Research Institute, was appointed as the association's standing director.