Female Korean golfers in the LPGA tour: Positive and negative outcomes

ABSTRACT

Korean LPGA tour players have given outstanding performances around the world, and the country now has the highest number of leading female golfers. Earlier studies have explored factors for the success of Korean players, but only a few studies have examined the detrimental impact of such success regarding the ‘outcomes of success.’ We analyzed the critical aspects of success among Korean LPGA players as well as the deleterious effects to identify their positive and negative outcomes. This study used a constructivist framework for qualitative research based on ethnographic approach. We utilized semi-structured, open-ended interviews with four former and current LPGA Korean golfers. All the results were deduced by content analysis, categorization and itemization, causal chain analysis. Regarding factors of success, they have only focused on playing golf and cultivating strong mental discipline, due to their parents’ overall support. However, there were significant adverse consequences, such as physical and mental burnout and the desire to end their careers. In terms of generational differences, these players have all mentioned the development of systematic player management and better environments to grow as LPGA players.

ABSTRACT IN KOREAN

한국 LPGA 투어 선수들은 압도적인 성과를 기반으로 전세계 여자골프계를 이끌어가고 있다. 이에 따라 기존 연구에서는 한국 LPGA 투어 선수들의 성공요인을 분석하여 제시하였다. 하지만 제한된 연구만이 이러한 성공에 따른 부정적 영향에 초점을 맞추어 연구를 진행하였다. 이를 배경으로 본 연구의 목적은 한국 LPGA 선수들의 주요 성공요인을 검증함과 동시에 부정적인 효과를 도출하는 것이다. 연구목적을 달성하기 위하여 질적연구방법으로서 문화기술지연구방식으로 활용하였으며 대상은 은퇴 혹은 현역 한국 LPGA 투어 선수로 하였다. 자료수집을 위하여 반구조화된 질문 방식 기반의 개방형 심층면담을 실시하였다. 수집된 자료는 내용분석, 항목화 및 범주화, 인관관계 연결 분석 방법을 활용하였다. 결과를 살펴보면 부모님의 전적인 지원이 바탕이 되어 골프에만 집중하고 강한 정신력을 가지게 된 것이 주요한 성공요인으로 나타났다. 하지만 이러한 성공요인으로 인해 야기된 부정적인 영향이 명확히 나타났고 이는 신체적 및 정신적 소진, 이른 선수생활 중단이라는 결과로 이어진다는 것을 알 수 있었다. 세대 간 차이 분석 결과의 경우는 과거와 현재 비교 시 지금 시점이 선수를 육성하는데 있어서 보다 체계적인 시스템이 운용되며 보다 나은 환경이 제공되는 것으로 확인되었다.

KEYWORDS:

• Women athletes
• Korean women
• LPGA tour players
• factors of success
• negative effects
• parental influence

KEYWORDS:

• 여성운동선수
• 한국여자
• LPGA 투어선수
• 성공요인
• 부정적효과
• 부모영향

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Professor Okseon Lee (Seoul National University), Dr. Mala Khullar, and the anonymous referees for their comments.

Notes on contributors

Hojun SUNG is a researcher and Ph.D. scholar in the Department of Physical Education and Global Sport Management at Seoul National University. His research interests include organizational behavior, finance of sports, particularly professional baseball, effectiveness of sponsorships, gender differences in sports teams and the economic impact of professional sports teams. Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Young-A YANG is a member of LPGA and KLPGA and a professional tour golf player. She is the head coach of the Chinese women’s national golf team. She has a Master’s Degree in Sports Culture from Yonsei University. Her interests include careers of Korean women golfers, their second career choices and opportunities in Korea, and the development of golf in China. Email: [email protected]

Kisung Dennis KWON has a Ph.D. in Sport Management from Seoul National University. He has an MBA in Sport from San Diego State University. He has focused on fields such as sport and culture entrepreneurship. He has experience as an executive in charge of sport and culture in FootGolf, women’s football, street culture. Email: [email protected]

ORCID

Kisung Dennis KWON http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8933-352X

Notes

1. The spread of Korean popular culture overseas is referred to as the “Korean Wave” or “Hallyu”, which first appeared in Chinese news media between 1997 and 1998 (Kim, 2013).