'Son Kee-chung of the Golf World' Yeon Deok-chun, Name Restored... Record Correction Ahead of Liberation Day

On the 60th anniversary of the normalization of Korea-Japan relations, nationality and name corrected for his 1941 Japan Open victory

Late Yeon Deok-chun, advisor to the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA), who won the 1941 Japan Open Championship [Provided by the Korea Professional Golf Association. Reproduction and database prohibited]

Late (故) Yeon Deok-chun, advisor to the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA), often referred to as the 'Son Kee-chung of the golf world,' has had his name restored.

On the 12th, the KPGA held an event titled 'Restoring the History and Legend of Korea's No. 1 Professional Golfer, Late Yeon Deok-chun' at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. The event included a ceremony to commemorate the correction of his Japan Open Championship records and the restoration of his Japan Open victory trophy.

During the Japanese colonial period, in 1941, Yeon Deok-chun achieved the first international victory by a Korean at the Japan Open, the most prestigious tournament in Japanese professional golf.

He won the trophy with a total score of 2 over par 290 over four rounds, beating the second-place finisher by three strokes.

However, until recently, Yeon Deok-chun's name could not be found in the history of Japanese professional golf.

This was because Yeon Deok-chun competed under the Japanese name Nobuhara Tokuharu, and the Japan Golf Association (JGA) recorded the winner of the tournament as 'Japanese player Nobuhara' instead of 'Korean player Yeon Deok-chun.'

Last year, the KPGA and the Korea Golf Association (KGA) requested the JGA to correct Yeon Deok-chun's nationality and name. This year, marking the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation and the 60th anniversary of the normalization of Korea-Japan relations, they received approval in April.

Restoration Ceremony for the Trophy of Yeon Deok-chun, Korea's First Professional Golfer (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Seo Dae-yeon = On the 12th, at the restoration ceremony for the victory trophy of Korea's first professional golfer, the late Yeon Deok-chun, held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, participants including Kim Won-seop, President of KPGA (third from left), and Hiroshi Yamanaka, Executive Director of the Japan Golf Association (third from right), pose for a commemorative photo.

The event was held to commemorate the correction of Yeon Deok-chun's nationality and name for his 1941 Japan Open victory and the restoration of the Japan Open trophy, which was lost during the Korean War. 2025.8.12 dwise@yna.co.kr

Hiroshi Yamanaka, Chief Operating Officer of the JGA, who attended the event, stated, "Due to political circumstances, Advisor Yeon Deok-chun was unable to use his Korean name and participated in tournaments under a Japanese name. After receiving the request from the KPGA and KGA last year, the JGA held internal discussions and unanimously decided to correct the records."

He added, "This year is a meaningful year, marking the 60th anniversary of the normalization of Korea-Japan relations. I hope Advisor Yeon Deok-chun is rejoicing in heaven."

Kim Won-seop, President of the KPGA, remarked, "Late Advisor Yeon Deok-chun is the root of Korean golf. The correction of the records is a historic achievement that engraves the legitimacy of Korean golf, going beyond the individual player."

The KPGA also unveiled the restored Japan Open trophy of the late Yeon Deok-chun, which was lost during the Korean War. The trophy is scheduled to be exhibited at the Independence Hall of Korea.

KPGA President Kim Won-seop and JGA Executive Director Yamanaka Unveil the Restored Yeon Deok-chun Trophy (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Seo Dae-yeon = On the 12th, at the restoration ceremony for the victory trophy of Korea's first professional golfer, the late Yeon Deok-chun, held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, KPGA President Kim Won-seop (left) and Hiroshi Yamanaka, Executive Director of the Japan Golf Association, are unveiling the trophy.

The event was held to commemorate the correction of Yeon Deok-chun's nationality and name for his 1941 Japan Open victory and the restoration of the Japan Open trophy, which was lost during the Korean War. 2025.8.12 dwise@yna.co.kr

Born in Seoul in 1916, Yeon Deok-chun entered the world of golf through a relative who worked as a caddy at Gyeongseong Golf Club, Korea's first golf course.

He went to Japan in 1934 to study golf, obtained his professional qualification in Japan, and began his career as a player.

Along with the late Son Kee-chung, who won the gold medal in the marathon at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Yeon Deok-chun widely promoted the status of Koreans under Japanese colonial rule.

Although he missed the cut in his first Japan Open appearance in 1935, he finally achieved his dream in 1941.

Yeon Deok-chun, Korea's First Professional Golfer, Reclaims His Name and Honor (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Seo Dae-yeon = On the 12th, at the restoration ceremony for the victory trophy of Korea's first professional golfer, the late Yeon Deok-chun, held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, the trophy displayed shows Yeon Deok-chun's name inscribed on it.

The event was held to commemorate the correction of Yeon Deok-chun's nationality and name for his 1941 Japan Open victory and the restoration of the Japan Open trophy, which was lost during the Korean War. 2025.8.12 dwise@yna.co.kr

Yeon Deok-chun subsequently laid the foundation for professional golf in Korea.

He won the inaugural KPGA Championship, Korea's first professional golf tournament, in 1958, and co-founded the KPGA with fellow golfers in 1968.

He remained active in promoting Korean golf until his passing in 2004.

In honor of the late Yeon Deok-chun's achievements, the KPGA has named the lowest scoring award the 'Deok Chun Award' and has been presenting it since 1980. Yonhap News