KLPGA Major Tournament 'KB Financial Star Championship' Opens on the 9th

Providing a Unique Digital Experience in Galleries Through the Nation's First Metaverse Platform

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi]KB Financial Group announced on the 6th that it will host the ‘KB Financial Star Championship,’ a major tournament on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, at Blackstone Icheon Golf Club (Par 72, 6,689 yards) from the 9th to the 12th. The total prize money is 1.2 billion KRW, with the winner’s prize being 216 million KRW.

World No. 3 Inbee Park and World No. 7 Hyo-joo Kim, who recently competed in the Tokyo Olympics, are aiming for the championship, while Jeon In-ji, who finished tied for 6th at the LPGA Tour major Amundi Evian Championship, has also declared her participation. Leading the ‘Minji dominance’ this season with six wins, Park Min-ji, Oh Ji-hyun, who secured her 7th KLPGA win by capturing the Jeju Samdasoo Masters trophy, Lee Da-yeon, the ‘Little Giant’ who lifted a major trophy for the first time in two years at the previous major, and ‘Autumn Queen’ Jang Ha-na, all KLPGA Tour champions this season, will also be competing. An Song-yi and Lee Ye-won, players sponsored by the event, have pledged to perform with special determination.

KB Financial will provide new digital experiences to galleries and players through various initiatives at this tournament. For the first time in a domestic golf tournament, it will introduce the ‘KB Financial Star Championship Metaverse Platform,’ where galleries can participate in a virtual space. Visitors to the metaverse platform can create characters, control avatars, and enjoy various contents related to the tournament. They can attend media days to communicate with participating players in real time, join online cheering, and experience the KB Financial Group promotional pavilion.

KB Financial has added values of coexistence with the local community and eco-friendliness to this tournament. At the 17th hole of the course, the ‘KB Green Wave Zone’ will be operated for multi-child and single-parent families in the Icheon area. For each ball landing in this zone, 20 kg of Icheon freshly harvested rice will be donated, with a maximum donation of 4,000 kg. Additionally, Icheon’s local specialties, freshly harvested rice and peaches, will be used as prizes in various events.

A program supporting the new beginnings of senior citizens in the Icheon area will also be operated. Seniors trained as baristas through the ‘Icheon Senior Club’ will be supported with venue, equipment, materials, and supplies to gain on-site experience by serving coffee to players, media, and tournament officials at the venue. Furthermore, at the 5th hole ‘KB Star Zone,’ 1 million KRW will be donated for each ball landing there, with a maximum of 100 million KRW in hope scholarships to be awarded to children from single-parent households.

A KB Financial Group official said, “KB Financial, leading ESG management to create customer happiness and a better world, has prepared the country’s top major tournament by adding values of coexistence with the local community and eco-friendliness.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.