[Inside Chodong] "Messenger of Hope" Woo Young-woo in the Golf World

"Like Woo Young-woo":
Lee Seung-min, a Golfer with Autism, Makes History with US Adaptive Open Victory
From Overcoming the "Golf Exam" to Becoming a Symbol of Hope
Chasing the Dream of the Masters, Lee Seung-min’s Ongoing Challenge Inspires Many

Autistic developmental disorder golfer Lee Seung-min has become an icon of hope in the COVID-19 era. This is a photo of him smiling brightly after winning the 1st Disabled US Open. Photo by USGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "Goose, tomato, Switzerland, Indian, shooting star, Woo Young-woo."

This is a famous line from the popular drama "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" airing on the ENA channel. Woo Young-woo, an attorney with autism spectrum disorder, introduces herself every time she meets someone new by saying, "My name is Woo Young-woo, whether you read it forwards or backwards." Although there is no one like her in Korea, in the United States there is Hailey Moss, Florida's first attorney with autism. Recently, a Woo Young-woo has also appeared in the golf world, attracting attention. It is Lee Seung-min (25), who is active as a professional golfer despite having autism spectrum developmental disorder.

Lee Seung-min won the 1st US Adaptive Open (Disabled US Open) on the 22nd. It is an incredible achievement overcoming his disability. Lee Seung-min, who said "I am so happy," smiled simply and said, "It feels like a dream," adding, "During the round, I repeated to myself six times, 'I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it.'" Lee Seung-min is a hero of human triumph. He was diagnosed with congenital autism spectrum developmental disorder around the age of two. His intelligence quotient (IQ) is 66, equivalent to the level of a 6-7 year old.

The story of how Lee Seung-min started golf is interesting. From a young age, he loved grass so much that he could identify its type just by smell. He became fascinated by the white ball flying over the green grass and decided to become a golfer. He was exposed to golf while living in the United States following his diplomat father. At first, he was afraid to make eye contact and talk with strangers. He started ice hockey at a special school in the US, but after frequent injuries in group activities with non-disabled peers, he fully devoted himself to golf from the first year of middle school.

Golf changed Lee Seung-min’s life. In 2014, when he was a sophomore at Sinseong High School, he earned the Korean Professional Golf Association (KPGA) semi-pro qualification. In 2017, after five attempts, he became a full member of the Korean Tour. This was the first time for a player with developmental disabilities. With determination to "definitely achieve it," he passed the "golf exam," which is difficult even for regular players. He also demonstrated his skills by participating as an invited player on the professional stage. In 2018, he advanced to the main round for the first time at the DB Insurance Promy Open and won a valuable prize of 1.89 million won. This year, he tied for 44th place at the SK Telecom Open.

In reality, it is difficult for people with autism to excel at golf because the nerve cells responsible for sensory and motor functions are damaged. Their integrated motor skills are poor, making their walking and hand movements unnatural. Lee Seung-min’s mother, Park Ji-ae, explained, "He would forget what he learned quickly, so he had to practice repeatedly without end." Through golf, Lee Seung-min’s social skills improved. His developmental disability grade was lowered from level 2 to level 3. His language expression and communication abilities changed remarkably.

Disability is just a difference. It is not about having or not having, but about degrees. Everyone has their own abilities. Park said, "The drama ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’ has increased interest in people with autism," and added, "I hope it becomes an opportunity for people to realize that those with autism can adapt well to the real world." Lee Seung-min is now standing at a new starting line. He plans to continue participating in the KPGA Srixon Tour (2nd division) qualifiers. He is also ready to participate in regular tour events whenever invited.

This fall, he will also knock on the doors of the Korean Tour Qualifying Tournament (QT) and the Asian (APGA) Tour. "I will keep challenging myself to give courage to people in situations like mine," he said. Lee Seung-min’s ultimate dream is to appear in the "Masters of Masters" and play through the final round. It is not easy to achieve, but we support that dream. There are 34,000 people with autism spectrum disorder in Korea. Lee Seung-min has become a messenger of hope saying, "We can do it," during the exhausting and difficult COVID-19 era.

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