"Yeon Deokchun, the 'Sohn Kee-chung of Golf,' Reclaims His Name"

Record Corrected on 60th Anniversary of Korea-Japan Diplomatic Relations
Nationality and Name Amended for 1941 Japan Open Victory

The late Yoon Deokchun, advisor to the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) and known as the "Sohn Keechung of the golf world," has finally reclaimed his name.

On August 12, at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, the KPGA held a ceremony titled "Restoring the History and Legend of Korea's First Professional Golfer, the Late Yoon Deokchun." During the event, the association announced the correction of the Japan Open Championship records and held a commemorative ceremony for the restoration of Yoon's Japan Open trophy.

Late Yoon Deokchun, KPGA advisor, is holding the trophy and posing for a commemorative photo right after winning the 1941 Japan Open. Photo by KPGA

During the Japanese colonial period in 1941, Yoon became the first Korean to win an international tournament by capturing the title at the Japan Open, the most prestigious event in Japanese professional golf. However, until recently, his name was absent from the official history of Japanese professional golf. He competed under the Japanese name Nobuhara Tokuharu, and the Japan Golf Association (JGA) recorded the winner as "Japanese player Nobuhara" instead of "Korean player Yoon Deokchun."

Last year, the KPGA and the Korea Golf Association (KGA) requested that the JGA correct Yoon's nationality and name. In April of this year, marking the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation and the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, the JGA agreed to the change. Yamanaka Hiroshi, Chief Operating Officer of the JGA, stated, "Due to political circumstances, Yoon was unable to use his Korean name and had to compete under a Japanese name. After receiving the request from the KPGA and KGA last year, the JGA held internal discussions and unanimously decided to correct the record."

Kim Wonseop, Chairman of the KPGA, commented, "Yoon is the very foundation of Korean golf. The correction of the record is a historic achievement that affirms the legitimacy of Korean golf, beyond the accomplishments of a single player." The KPGA also unveiled a restored version of Yoon's Japan Open trophy, which had been lost during the Korean War. This trophy will be displayed at the Independence Hall of Korea.

From the left, Ryu Jin, Chairman of Pungsan Group; Moon Hongsik, Advisor of KPGA; Kim Wonseop, Chairman of KPGA; Yamanaka Hiroshi, Chief Operating Officer of JGA; Kang Hyungmo, Chairman of KGA; and Moon Seongwook, KPGA professional, are posing at the restoration ceremony of the trophy of Korea's first professional golfer Yeon Deokchun. Photo by KPGA

Born in Seoul in 1916, Yoon was introduced to golf through a relative who worked as a caddie at Gyeongseong Golf Club, Korea's first golf course. In 1934, he traveled to Japan to study golf, obtained his professional qualification there, and began his playing career. Alongside the late Sohn Keechung, who won the gold medal in the marathon at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, Yoon helped raise the profile of Koreans during the Japanese colonial era. Although he missed the cut in his first Japan Open appearance in 1935, he finally achieved his dream in 1941.

Yoon went on to lay the foundation for professional golf in Korea. He won the inaugural KPGA Championship, Korea's first professional golf tournament, in 1958, and in 1968, he helped establish the KPGA with his juniors. Until his passing in 2004, he remained actively involved in the development of Korean golf. To honor his achievements, the KPGA has presented the "Deokchun Award" for the lowest stroke average since 1980.

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