As many as 33 new golf courses will open in the country this year despite concerns of overcapacity, bringing the total to 468 courses, an industry source said Sunday.
The new courses break down to 18 private and 15 public courses, said Suh Cheon-bom, head of Kole Co., which closely follows the country's leisure industry.
Golf courses have risen significantly in the country in the past decade when South Korean professional golfers have won tournaments on the U.S. PGA and LPGA tours. Golfing had been considered a sport of the rich in South Korea for decades.
The country witnessed a surge in the number of courses by 27.3 in 2011, 37.7 in 2010, 25.3 in 2009, 33.1 in 2008 and 32 in 2007 in terms of an 18-hole course.
"We need to launch a new marketing strategy such as targeting tourists consisting of families," Suh said, noting, "We are suffering from aggravating business profits due to overcapacity. (Yonhap)