PGA golf player Kim Joo-hyung, left, poses with his wife. [JOONGANG ILBO]

PGA golf player Kim Joo-hyung, left, poses with his wife. [JOONGANG ILBO]

 

PGA golfer Kim Joo-hyung secretly got married last year, according to findings by the JoongAng Ilbo.

 

He first met his now-wife, Lee Seo-yeon in 2024 during her family’s sabbatical stay in Dallas, where he was living.

 


 

The two grew closer through Bible study sessions and later developed a romantic relationship that led to their marriage. The couple kept the marriage private to protect Lee’s privacy as she is still a student, but the news surfaced after Kim appeared at a players’ gathering wearing a wedding ring.

 

Kim and his wife also had a double date with the world’s No. 1 golfer, Scottie Scheffler — whom he considers his brother.

 

Lee Yong-gyu, Kim’s father-in-law, is a prominent figure in the Korean Christian community. After earning both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in East Asian history from Seoul National University, Lee received a doctorate in Middle Eastern studies and history from Harvard University. 

 

Lee later moved to Mongolia with his family to serve as a missionary. After spending seven years in Ulaanbaatar, he relocated to Jakarta, Indonesia, where he founded Jakarta International University and continues his educational missionary work. His 2006 best-seller “Letting Go” (translated) which reflects on his life and faith, has sold more than 760,000 copies.

 

PGA golf player Kim Joo-hyung poses with his in-laws. [JOONGANG ILBO]

PGA golf player Kim Joo-hyung poses with his in-laws. [JOONGANG ILBO]

 

“I was attracted to her because her life experiences are similar to mine,” Kim said.

 

Kim grew up moving between countries including China and Thailand, spent a brief period in Korea during the Covid-19 pandemic and has been based in the United States since 2022.

 

Having started his professional golfer career from a young age, Kim had to live a life filled with competition. Similiarly, Lee also spent much of her childhood abroad in countries including Mongolia and Indonesia while following her missionary parents. Both learned in their own ways how to build roots in unfamiliar places.

 

“We understand each other and can lean on one another,” Kim said.

 

Korean golfer Kim Joo-hyung hits from the 18th tee at the Pete Dye Stadium Course during the first round of the American Express golf tournament in La Quinta, California on Jan. 16, 2025. [AP]

Korean golfer Kim Joo-hyung hits from the 18th tee at the Pete Dye Stadium Course during the first round of the American Express golf tournament in La Quinta, California on Jan. 16, 2025. [AP]

 

Lee double majored in economics and political science at Smith College in the U.S. on a full scholarship and is currently studying at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom as an exchange student. Living modestly like her parents, she hopes to become a lawyer and work on public policy for the U.S. federal government.

 

Kim endured a slump last season but has regained momentum this year, making the cut in all five tournaments he has entered so far. He finished tied for 34th at the recent Genesis Invitational.

 

“I feel more at ease and more responsible after getting married,” Kim said.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY SUNG HO-JUN [[email protected]]