Jeon In-ji's Fan Club of Over 10,000: "Grand Slam is Great, but We Hope for 'Happy Golf'"

Interview with Jeon In-ji Fan Cafe 'Flying Dumbo' Manager

Surpasses 10,000 Members as of the 25th
"Charming for Her Easygoing Personality and Tolerance"

Jeon In-ji's other name is ‘Dumbo’. Dumbo is a baby elephant from a Disney animated film. Flapping its big ears and flying in the sky, it cannot contain its curiosity when something piques its interest. From the angle of her wrists to the way she directs her gaze, her inquisitive behavior during lessons closely resembles Dumbo. Her ‘10-year mentor,’ Coach Park Won, gave her this nickname. Her fan club is called ‘Flying Dumbo’. Established in 2013, this fan cafe surpassed 10,000 members as of the 25th. It is one of the top five largest fan clubs among female professional golf players. This year marks exactly 10 years since fans who wish for the curious Dumbo to soar high have gathered.

Flying Dumbo is known for having an unusually high proportion of male fans. Beyond her feminine appearance, her relaxed and inclusive personality has captivated many fans. During the 2019 BMW Ladies Championship, when a marshal caddie tried to stop the gallery from taking photos due to the camera shutter sound, she approached and allowed them to take pictures, saying ‘It’s okay.’ Additionally, at last year’s KB Financial Star Championship, a moment when she handed the putter to her caddie with both hands was captured on camera and became a hot topic. The photo titled ‘A shot that explains Jeon In-ji’ recorded high views on the internet for a while.

Cafe members are taking commemorative photos at the 'Dumbo Day' held at Jeon In-ji's exhibition in 2022.
[Photo by Manager Kim Eun-jung]

Kim Eun-jung, manager of the Flying Dumbo fan club, told Asia Economy on the 26th, "Jeon In-ji is a player that fans remember well once they see her." Regardless of age or gender, she always greeted with a smile and made sure to ask about their well-being when meeting again. Manager Kim recalled, "There was a time when she wore a hat to attend a year-end party because she wasn’t feeling well, and I was touched that fans remembered this and later asked if she was okay." She added, "I had never held a golf club before, but I became deeply captivated by Dumbo’s humble and considerate nature."

During difficult times, their affection for the player grew even stronger. Despite her brilliant career, Jeon In-ji went through a severe slump for a while. After winning a total of four titles on the LPGA Tour, including three majors?the 2015 US Women’s Open and the 2016 Evian Championship?she did not win again for some time. From October 2018, after the LPGA Tour KEB Hana Bank Championship, she went 3 years and 8 months without lifting a trophy.

In June last year, she finally seized a chance to win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Jeon In-ji held the lead consecutively in the 1st and 2nd rounds, moving one step closer to victory. However, she lost 3 strokes in the 3rd round and engaged in a fierce battle with the second-place competitor until the very end. In the late night past 3 a.m. Korean time, fans forgot their sleep and shared the leaderboard in real-time in the cafe’s ‘Cheering Room,’ leaving comments to support her. Foreign fans on-site helped by providing ‘text commentary’ to keep everyone updated. Manager Kim said, "I watched the match with a heart that felt like it was shrinking until the very end," and laughed, "I heard that the next day, everyone came to work with puffy eyes."

There were also regrets. Riding the momentum, she challenged the ‘Career Grand Slam’ at the AIG Women’s Open in August but fell short at the threshold of victory, finishing tied for 2nd place. The Career Grand Slam means winning four out of the five major tournaments: the Chevron Championship, US Women’s Open, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Evian Championship, and AIG Women’s Open. It is considered the pinnacle of a golf career. If Jeon In-ji succeeds in the Career Grand Slam, she will become the second Asian player to do so after Park In-bi.

At the 2018 KEB Hana Championship, cafe members are taking a commemorative photo as Jeon In-ji wins.
[Photo by Manager Kim Eun-jung]

The desire for results and the pressure are fully reflected in the works of ‘Angry Jeon In-ji’. Last month, Jeon In-ji held an exhibition titled ‘Parrot Meets Dumbo’ with artist Park Sun-mi and showcased her works. She explained that she relieved psychological anxiety such as impatience for winning, longing for unfulfilled dreams, and concerns about her golf life through her paintings.

She also held a so-called ‘Dumbo Day’ for her fans. She transformed into a docent herself and explained the meaning of her works to the fans. Manager Kim emphasized, "It was heartbreaking and touching to see the worries she felt as a golfer reflected in her paintings," and added, "I was grateful to Dumbo for making time for fans despite her busy schedule."

This year, Jeon In-ji continues her challenge toward the Career Grand Slam. However, the fans’ goal is different. While the Grand Slam is great, above all, they hope Jeon In-ji plays ‘happy golf’. Manager Kim said, "If the conflict over goals deepens, the retirement timing could come sooner," and added, "We sincerely hope Dumbo enjoys golf happily and for a long time."

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