Wide Open Field Awaits as KPGA Season Tees Off in Chuncheon
2025 KPGA Tour Season Opening
Seoul, Korea - The 2025 KPGA Tour season officially begins on April 17 with the 20th edition of the DB Insurance Promy Open, set to take place over four days at La Vie Est Belle Country Club’s Old Course (Par 71) in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the tournament has boosted its total prize fund to KRW 1 billion (approx. USD 750,000), up KRW 300 million from last year. The winner will take home KRW 200 million and secure a three-year KPGA Tour exemption from 2026 to 2028, along with 1,000 Genesis points.
With 144 players in the field and defending champion Yoon Sang-pil absent due to military service, the title is up for grabs. DB Insurance-sponsored players including Kim Hong-taek, Moon Do-yeob, and Jang Hee-min are set to headline the chase. Notably, Kim recently signed with DB Insurance and has eyes on multiple wins this season.
“I’ve set my goal on multiple victories this year, and I especially want to win this tournament, hosted by my sponsor,” Kim said. “I’m grateful for their support and will do my best to show great golf.”
Genesis Grand Prize contenders are also in the spotlight, particularly rising star Jo Woo-young, who ended last season with a win and five top-five finishes in the last six events. “I gained a lot of confidence through offseason training focused on short game within 100 metres,” said Jo, who also has plans to enter PGA Tour Q-School later this year.
Last year’s Rookie of the Year race rivals Song Min-hyuk and Kim Baek-joon are both eyeing their first wins. “I realised my short game was lacking during my rookie season, so I trained 7 to 10 hours a day over the winter,” said Song. Kim added, “Competing for Rookie of the Year taught me a lot. This year, my goal is the Grand Prize, and I’ll need to win early.”
The tournament also sees the return of Lee Sang-yeob, Park Jung-min, and Park Jun-hyuk following their military service. Of the 14 new KPGA rookies this season, 13 are in the field, including Challenge Tour No.1 Kim Hyun-wook, former national players Moon Dong-hyun and Yoo Hyun-jun, and 2017 PGA Tour China money leader Cho Rak-hyun.
New pace-of-play regulations will be enforced this season, targeting excessive shot times. The KPGA aims to cut average round time from 4 hours 35 minutes to 4 hours 25 minutes.
In line with its long-standing social initiative, DB Insurance will again run the "Love Birdies" campaign, donating KRW 50,000 per birdie made during the event to support firefighter families. Total donations have reached KRW 800 million over the past decade.
Spectator engagement includes hole-in-one prizes on four par-3 holes, featuring high-end medical equipment, audio systems, vehicles, and beds. Daily gallery tickets are priced at KRW 20,000, with KPGA members admitted free. Each round, 100 spectators will receive commemorative gifts, with additional prize draws for Chuncheon residents and attendees on the final day.