Woori Financial Group hosted the Woori Financial Dream Round at Seowon Valley Country Club in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. The event acted as a precursor to the Woori Financial Championship, which begins on the 23rd, and focused on nurturing the next generation of golfers.
The Dream Round is Woori Financial Group’s corporate social responsibility program to identify and support promising elementary-school golfers nationwide; this year marked its second edition. Organizers prioritized inviting 72 young players from regions at risk of population decline to give them real-competition experience and opportunities to develop.
Thirty-six KPGA professionals took part. Each team paired one pro with two junior players and played an 18-hole scramble, giving the students a chance to learn techniques and course management from the pros while gaining practical tournament experience.
Yong Hyun-seo, a student at Haemil Elementary who drew attention last year, returned to compete. She won seven of the federation’s eight elementary tournaments last season. Her older sister, Yong Hyun-jeong, who overcame a congenital condition and was named to this year’s junior national reserve squad, did not participate after advancing to middle school, and Hyun-seo stepped in to carry on for the family.
Woori Financial Group said it will continue supporting participants by covering individual training costs, awarding scholarships and donating development funds to their schools.
Lee Jae-hyeok, deputy head of Woori Financial Group’s Brand Strategy Department, said, “The Woori Financial Dream Round provides opportunities for future generations and supports their continued growth. We will continue working to narrow educational opportunity gaps between regions and expand support to nurture future talent.”
