The Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA) Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance K.J. Choi Invitational wrapped up in September, drawing attention to the 10-year partnership between Chairman Chung Mong-yoon of Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance and pro golfer Choi Kyung-ju. Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance has sponsored the tournament since 2016.
Men's golf tournaments lag far behind women's events. In 2016, when the Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance K.J. Choi Invitational began, the women's KLPGA Tour held 32 tournaments, while the men's KPGA Tour held only 13. Even now, men's events remain around 20.
Chairman Chung Mong-yoon of Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance heard that the domestic tournament hosted by Choi Kyung-ju, who has eight PGA Tour wins, might not be held because it failed to secure a sponsor, and decided to sponsor it with less than a week left before the tournament.
Since 2016, Chung has steadily increased support. The prize pool, which was 500 million won in 2016, has risen to 1.25 billion won from 2022 to the present. The event operates a 45 million won prize contingency system that pays an equal amount to players who made the cut and finished 61st or lower. During the tournament, Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance provided its training center as lodging for players and caddies and offered meals for their families. Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance eliminated the pro-am (a competition with professionals and amateurs) to allow players ample practice time.
Across 10 tournaments, about 1,300 players had the chance to compete, and the aggregates of prize money awarded exceeded 10 billion won. Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance said, "Chairman Chung Mong-yoon has begun preparations for the 11th tournament. We will continue our support for fans who care about sports."