The Shinhan Donghae Open, now in its 42nd year, will take place from September 10 to 13 at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon, featuring intense competition among top golfers from Korea and Japan ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Founded in 1981 by the late Lee Hee-gun, honorary chairman of Shinhan Bank, along with Korean golfers in Japan, the tournament aims to promote the development of golf in Korea and discover outstanding players.
This year's event is co-hosted by the Korea Professional Golf (KPGA) Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO). With the Asian Games set to begin in September, the tournament is expected to serve as a precursor to the Korea-Japan rivalry, allowing athletes from both countries to sharpen their competitive edge and preview the upcoming showdown.
The player lineup is impressive, featuring Kim Sung-hyun and Moon Do-yeop, who are set to compete in the Asian Games, as well as Kazuki Higa from Japan. Other notable participants include Jang Yu-bin, who has secured two victories this season and has a total of five wins on the KPGA Tour, along with veterans Song Young-han and Lee Tae-hoon, who are also eyeing the championship trophy.
Additionally, promising amateur golfer Jeong Ui-seok, who earned a spot in the main event by winning the 3rd Shinhan Donghae Men's Amateur Golf Championship last month, will also participate.
In the past five years, the tournament has seen two victories for Korea and three for Japan. The winners have alternated between the two countries, with Seo Yo-seop (2021), Kazuki Higa (2022), Ko Gun-taek (2023), and Kensei Hirata (2024) taking home the trophy, while Higa reclaimed the title last year after a three-year gap.
Jin Ok-dong, chairman of Shinhan Financial Group, stated, "The Shinhan Donghae Open, which began in 1981, has grown alongside the development of golf in Korea and is a representative golf tournament. I hope this event, featuring top players from both countries ahead of the Asian Games, will serve as a meaningful opportunity for golf exchange between Korea and Japan."
Tickets for the tournament will be available for purchase starting August 18 through the official sales channel, Unitix. Admission is free for youth under 19 and children.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.