Korean PGA golfer donates 100 million won
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Golfer Bae Sang-moon, left, currently serving his military service, poses with Community Chest of Korea Secretary-General Park Chan-bong after joining the “Honor Society” club at its headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap
By Kang Seung-woo
Two-time PGA Tour winner Bae Sang-moon, now serving his mandatory military service, has joined the “Honor Society” after donating 100 million won ($85,500) to charity, the Community Chest of Korea said, Tuesday.
Anyone donating more than 100 million won in a cumulative sum to charity is entitled to be named a society member and Bae has become the 1,272nd member _ the first time for a Korean male golfer to join the honorable group.
Since the 30-year-old started his charity activity in 2011, he has donated 138 million won thus far.
Separately, he also donated the winner’s prize of 200 million won from the 2014 Shinhan Donghae Open, a major tournament of the Korea PGA Tour, for children of low-income families in his native town of Daegu.
“I have decided to join the Society to return the favor from people,” said Bae, who began his military commitment in November last year.
“I hope my donation will help the elderly who contributed to the development of our society.”
Bae, who joined the PGA Tour in 2012, has earned $6.2 million from the U.S. men’s professional golf circuit. He also played for the Presidents Cup last year, representing the international squad against the U.S. team. Bae has also won 12 times internationally.
After finishing his military service, Bae plans to return to the PGA Tour for the 2017-18 season.
Along with Bae, Lee Seung-hyun, a KLPGA Tour pro, has also joined the club.
Lee, 25, donated 50 million won earlier this month to the Community Chest of Korea and pledged to donate as much within five years.
Lee, who turned pro in 2009, has claimed five victories on the domestic women’s tour, including two from this past season.
There are four other female golfers who joined the Society, including Park In-bee and Choi Na-yeon.