Busan is good

Busan Secures World-Class Golf Tournament: LIV Golf Korea 2026 to Be Held in Busan

내용

Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that it has secured the Korean tournament of the global golf league LIV Golf, titled “2026 LIV Golf Korea.” The tournament is scheduled to be held for four days from May 28 to May 31 this year at Busan Asiad Country Club.

LIV Golf, launched in 2022, is a professional golf league sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). It features many of the world’s top players and is known for its high prize money.

Notable participants include Jon Rahm (runner-up at the 2023 PGA Tour Championship) and Joaquin Niemann (winner of one PGA Tour event in 2025).

LIV Golf Korea was first held domestically last year at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon. Following subsequent consultations, Busan was confirmed as the host city for “2026 LIV Golf Korea.”

The 2026 LIV Golf season will be held across 10 countries spanning North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, with total prize money of approximately 420 million US dollars (about 610 billion KRW). In Asia, tournaments will take place in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Busan.

The 2026 LIV Golf series will consist of 14 tournaments in 10 countries, with world-class golfers competing for approximately 420 million US dollars in total prize money. Each tournament offers prize money of 30 million US dollars (about 44 billion KRW). The Korean team will include An Byeong-hun (captain), Danny Lee, Song Young-han, and Kim Min-kyu.

The season began in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from February 4 to February 7, followed by Adelaide, Australia, from February 12 to February 15. Subsequent tournaments will proceed sequentially through North America (five U.S. states and Mexico), Europe (Spain and the United Kingdom), Africa (South Africa), and Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, and Busan) until the end of August.

LIV Golf is regarded as a cultural sportainment event that combines sports and entertainment, attracting strong participation from younger audiences and significant interest from global golf fans.

Unlike the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, LIV Golf operates as a festival-style golf event that combines tournament play with live performances by leading artists from the host country.

In Korea as well, the 2025 LIV Golf Korea event featured top artists including G-DRAGON, IVE, Dynamic Duo, and Gummy, successfully drawing not only golf fans but also general spectators.

Busan Metropolitan City expects the tournament to generate considerable ripple effects across the regional economy, including tourism and MICE industries.

The city anticipates increased visits to Busan by domestic and international spectators and related personnel, which is likely to expand local consumption in areas such as accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, and shopping.

Additionally, as LIV Golf is a global sporting event broadcast to more than 200 countries and regions and approximately 900 million households worldwide, the city expects it will contribute to enhancing Busan’s international profile.

According to LIV Golf, the LIV Golf Adelaide 2026 tournament held in Australia this February recorded more than 38,500 spectators in a single day and over 115,000 visitors during the four-day event (February 12–15), setting a new record for the highest attendance in the tournament’s history. Furthermore, the LIV Golf New Orleans 2026 tournament scheduled to take place in the United States this June is estimated to create more than 1,150 jobs and generate approximately 40 million US dollars (about 54 billion KRW) in economic impact for the local economy.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “We welcome the hosting of LIV Golf Korea in Busan and expect it will provide an opportunity for players, fans, and visitors from around the world to experience Busan through the city’s warm hospitality and unique charm.”

He added, “As this tournament will showcase Busan’s international standing and urban competitiveness, we will carefully analyze its economic ripple effects on the regional economy, including revitalizing local industries and advancing the sports and tourism sectors, while also actively promoting the growth of the sports industry and fostering talent.”