Victory in a Refreshing Blue Uniform! “The Heroine of Korean Golf” Shows Off Her Brilliant Play on the Japan Tour

It has been about 10 years since Lee Bo-mee (37) took the Japan Tour by storm—and now, a Korean star who brings back memories of that frenzy has finally reached the pinnacle in Japan.

Park Hyun-kyung, 26, boasts a total of eight wins on the Korean Women’s Tour.Known in Korea by the nickname “Cutiful” (a portmanteau of “cute” and “beautiful”) and enjoying immense popularity, she won the “Earth Mondamin Cup” (held June 25–29), which was decided on Monday due to a typhoon, claiming her first victory in just her fourth Japan Tour event.

While her skill in winning this grueling survival race—playing 30 holes in a single day—was undeniable, it was her charming, down-to-earth personality that captivated the gallery. When her birdie putt on the final 18th hole—which would have sealed the victory had she made it—came up well short, she couldn’t help but flash a shy smile. At the post-tournament press conference, she reflected on the moment:

“It had been over a year since my last win on the Korean Tour, so I actually felt a sense of urgency—I felt like I had to win. I knew that two putts would secure the victory, so I tried to get the ball as close as possible, but it came up much shorter than I expected, so I just couldn’t help but laugh a little (laughs).”

A “Parent-Child Spat” with Her Former Pro Father

Her charm lightens the mood even in tense moments. Her dramatic victory left a strong impression on the Japanese women’s golf scene, signaling the arrival of a new star.

Park started playing golf in July 2008.She says it all started when her father, Seth—a former professional golfer who ran a driving range—told her, “July 31 is your golf birthday.” After turning pro, she rose to prominence as a shot-maker, armed with an exceptional ability to keep the ball on the fairway. By her side throughout was her father, always carrying her bag as her caddie.

In this tournament as well, the unconventional setup of “three utility clubs”—chosen by her father—proved brilliant, though there were apparently some heated exchanges on the course, typical of both professionals and parent-child relationships.

“We’ve been playing together for eight years, but since my dad is a former pro, we have a lot of differences of opinion.Even when I three-putted for a bogey, we’d argue over our differing views, or when I missed a birdie putt I should have made, I’d end up grumbling under my breath. I’ll often complain one-sidedly, saying, ‘What’s up with your analysis?’ (laughs). But I’m always grateful for my dad’s support.”

Although she once had a different caddie carry her bag, it reportedly didn’t work out. All eight of her career wins in South Korea have come in partnership with her father. And since she won this tournament as well, it seems their partnership will continue for some time to come.

Among the media and fans, she is already being hailed as “Lee Bo-mee’s successor” and “Lee Bo-mee II.” Even when her name is mentioned alongside that of the former money list champion who once sparked a social phenomenon across Japan, she smiles and says she doesn’t feel any pressure at all.

“I don’t feel any pressure at all. On the contrary, I’m grateful. I felt more like, ‘Is it really okay for me?’ Senior Lee Bo-mee has always been someone I look up to. From where I am now, I’m still a long way from Senior Bo-mee’s level, so I think of her as someone out of my reach. I feel like asking, ‘Is it really okay for you to say that about me?’”

She plans to spend her 72 million yen prize money on “watches and beauty treatments.”

However, her polite and charming demeanor during the post-match interviews—responding in Japanese with “Thank you” and “You’re welcome”—is a perfect reflection of the former queen who once captivated Japan.In South Korea, she has been selected as the “KLPGA Public Relations Model” by fan vote for seven consecutive years, and with her Instagram following reaching approximately 150,000, her hospitality comes as no surprise.  

The winner’s prize money for this tournament is 72 million yen—the highest in the history of the Japan Tour. When asked how she plans to spend this substantial sum, she gave a down-to-earth answer befitting a 26-year-old.

“Before the season started, there was a watch (Cartier) I wanted to buy if I won this year. Even though the price kept going up, I held off and decided to buy it after winning, so first of all, I want to buy that watch.

Another thing is something my friends have been asking me to do—one of them told me, ‘My cell phone broke, so please buy me a new one if you win,’ so I have to do that (laughs). Also, someone said, ‘I have a spot on my face, so please get it treated.’ I think that means laser treatment (laughs). And above all else, I’d like to use some of the money to show my appreciation to my parents.”

Investing in her own beauty, keeping her promises to friends, and expressing gratitude to her parents. While these were heartwarming comments, when I asked about her hobbies outside of work, I was surprised to hear that she’s “all about golf.”

“I get asked this a lot in Korea, too, and it’s really hard for me to answer.I love golf so much, and in my life, I’m always thinking about nothing but golf practice and golf, so when people ask me about hobbies, I really can’t say. However, I’m thinking about taking dance lessons during this year’s off-season. Maybe that’ll become a hobby. After seeing BLACKPINK’s Jennie play golf, I thought, ‘I want to dance too’ (laughs).”

With this victory, she has secured her eligibility to compete on the Japan Tour through next season. Regarding her future competition plans, she remains cautious.

“I’d like to take my time thinking about that. But it hasn’t quite sunk in yet. I actually have goals in Korea as well. Since I’ve now secured my ninth career victory in Japan, my goal is to achieve my tenth victory in Korea as soon as possible.”

As for the possibility of moving her base to Japan in the future…

For now, it looks like she’ll be shuttling back and forth between the Korean Tour and the Japan Tour, but both she and her father were impressed by the Japan Tour’s excellent course conditions and thorough organizational support. Her father, Seth, told this reporter with a smile, “We’ll be seeing her face a lot in Japan from now on.” Above all, what gave her the biggest boost was the warmth of the Japanese fans.

“I love Japan, and I remember finishing near the top every time I’ve come here. Even though I’m a foreigner, I’ve realized that the fans here really cheer me on, and I think their support definitely had a huge impact.”

In fact, her paternal grandmother had passed away just before the tournament, and she arrived in Japan with a heavy heart. However, on Saturday—a day with an irregular schedule—just as she was about to take a shot in the rain, a “white butterfly” appeared before her. “Grandma came to cheer me on,” she told her father, and it was this encouragement that spurred her on to victory.

In the end, “Cutiful” wrapped things up with a charming smile and the words, “See you again!” in Japanese. It won’t be long before this 26-year-old—who combines talent, beauty, and exceptional hospitality—takes the Japanese golf scene by storm and achieves even greater success.