"This is not simply about building one more park golf course. It is about raising the quality of the user environment to a whole new level."
Lee Jung-eui, 81, president of the Yeongdeungpo-gu Park Golf Association, said this in a recent interview with The Seoul Economic Daily about the second course to be built underneath Yangpyeong Bridge along Anyangcheon Stream.
The second course is a large-scale project with a total investment of 1.6 billion won, equally split between 800 million won in national funding and 800 million won in district funding. The project received a river occupancy permit from the Han River Basin Environmental Office in January this year and broke ground on April 20. Following its completion in May and a turf growth period, it is scheduled for a temporary opening in October.
Lee has been involved since the design stage, devoting his full efforts to creating a user-centered course. Although it is an 18-hole course, multiple tee boxes and hole cups have been arranged to achieve the effect of a 36-hole operation. Night lighting and water facilities have also been introduced, and considering the high proportion of female members, restroom expansion has been pursued. In addition, a dedicated elevator is being installed, and amenities such as a heated and air-conditioned lounge and a clock tower will be reinforced to improve the user environment.
Lee's ability to incorporate such detail into the park golf course construction was grounded in his diverse experience. He has served as a Seoul city government official, a city councilor (chair of the Budget and Settlement Committee), and as a manager in the construction industry. In particular, he was directly involved in project planning and budget securing for the creation of Yeouido Park in 1997. "My experience in public service and on the ground has been a great help in the second course development project as well," he said. "Administration is a process of procedures and persuasion, and it is important to bring on-site needs into the system."
He first encountered park golf in 2021 through his wife's rehabilitation exercise. Through playing park golf himself, he experienced its accessibility and sense of community firsthand and confirmed its growth potential. He also felt the limitations of a supply unable to meet rapidly increasing demand. That is why he took on the role of association president.
Since taking office, he has focused on moving away from the practice of handling related tasks in an ad hoc manner and shifting to a systematic approach. In fact, after his inauguration, he established about 10 new organizations to match the membership size of about 1,700 people and built a structure in which roughly 100 people share various roles. Major tasks have been standardized in written form, and a system has been established to immediately reflect on-site opinions through regular meetings with 31 clubs. An association bulletin is also planned to facilitate smooth communication with members. "Park golf is a second-act stage where seniors regain the vitality of life," Lee said. "We will continuously improve operations and facilities so that members can enjoy the sport with peace of mind for a long time."
