Pohang City Appoints Pro Golfer Choi Hoseong as 'Ambassador'... "Success Story Resembles Pohang"

Published 14 May.2020 09:38(KST)

Updated 14 Aug.2025 01:49(KST)

Mayor Lee Gang-deok is taking a commemorative photo after presenting the certificate of appointment as Pohang City Ambassador to Pro Choi Ho-seong.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] Pohang City announced on the 14th that it has appointed professional golfer Choi Ho-seong, famous for his whole-body twisting 'fisherman swing,' as an ambassador for Pohang City.

Pro Choi is the protagonist who has gained worldwide fame through SNS with his unique swing posture and a success story achieved through indomitable will, sparking online petitions requesting invitations to PGA Tour events.

Born in 1973 and originally from Janggi, Pohang, he is currently active mainly in the Japanese professional golf league. He is widely known both domestically and internationally, including winning the 2019 JGTO (Japan Golf Tour Organization) Heiwa PGM Championship, a total of three JGTO wins, a top 10 finish at the 2018 Korean Open, and invitations to the US PGA Tour.

In particular, Pro Choi's difficult life story is as much a topic of conversation as his distinctive swing. It is said that he did all kinds of work from a young age to make a living, including manual labor, delivery, and boat work.

In his mid-20s, attracted by the phrase 'room and board provided,' he started working part-time at a golf course, which later led to an inseparable relationship with golf. Having learned golf by watching over someone's shoulder, he became so absorbed in practice that he passed the semi-pro test just over a year after picking up a golf club, becoming a remarkable figure.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok said, "Golfer Choi Ho-seong's spirit of challenge and success story closely resemble the resilience of Pohang citizens who rise up whenever faced with adversity," adding, "Please help give hope to citizens during these difficult times and widely promote the charm of Pohang to the nation."

Pro Choi expressed, "I am extremely happy and honored to be appointed as an ambassador to promote my beloved hometown Pohang," and said, "I will work hard to deliver a message of challenge and hope to the citizens."