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BMW Korea to host Korea’s biggest women’s golf championship

February 5, 2015

Choi Na-yeon, left, and Jang Ha Na walk up the eighth fairway together in the final round of the LPGA Coates Golf Championship Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala, Fla. Choi won the event. (AP Photo/The Ocala Star-Banner, Cyndi Chambers)

South Korea’s Choi Na-yeon, left, and Jang Ha Na walk up the eighth fairway together in the final round of the LPGA Coates Golf Championship Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala, Fla. Choi won the event. (AP Photo/The Ocala Star-Banner, Cyndi Chambers)

By Park Jin-hai

BMW Korea, marking its 20th anniversary, will host Korea’s biggest women’s golf competition here in July.

The KLPGA BMW Ladies Championship will offer a total of 1.2 billion won ($1.1 million) in prize money, which is a record high amount in women’s pro golf competitions in Korea.

“We think golf is an important sport through which we can communicate with our customers,” BMW Korea CEO Kim Hyo-joon said during a press meeting, Thursday.

“When we see the profile of our popular 7 series customers, 98 percent of them enjoy golf. We decided to hold the event, since we want to contribute to culture and sports, striking the right balance with the economic gains that we reaped in the past,”

Also, the German carmaker will donate cars to universities and high schools for research purposes.

Since 2001 until 2014, the company has provided a total of 67 vehicles, worth 6 billion won. It will donate 20 cars this year.

“Our task is making a customer-oriented market and protecting the future. Not through mere donations, but through creating social values continuously, we will contribute to society,” said Kim.