Jin Hee Im Bio
Jin Hee Im (Korean: 임진희; born 24 May 1998) is a South Korean professional golfer who competes on the LPGA Tour. After honing her game on the LPGA of Korea Tour, where she earned six titles, she transitioned to the American circuit in 2024 and quickly established herself as one of the most promising rookies of her class. In her debut LPGA Tour season, she posted six top-10 finishes across 24 starts and finished as the runner-up for the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award.
Early Life and Background
Jin Hee Im was born on 24 May 1998 in Jeju Province, South Korea. Although she was born on the island of Jeju, she grew up in Guri, a city in the Gyeonggi Province near Seoul, where she spent her formative years. Her South Korean upbringing and education placed her inside one of the most competitive amateur golf pipelines in the world.
Like many of her compatriots, Im was introduced to golf at a young age through the country’s widespread junior development system. The structured Korean training environment, which emphasizes technical precision and disciplined practice, helped lay the foundation for her transition into competitive tournament play. Her progression through the ranks reflected the depth of talent produced by South Korean women’s golf.
Path to Golf
Im turned professional in 2016, beginning her career as a rookie on the LPGA of Korea Tour. The KLPGA is widely regarded as one of the most demanding developmental circuits in the sport, and her early years on tour tested her against seasoned veterans and fellow rising stars. She steadily built her confidence through consistent finishes before breaking through for her first victory.
In 2021, Im captured her maiden professional title at the BC Card Hankyung Ladies Open, signaling her arrival as a contender on the Korean circuit. Two years later, in 2023, she enjoyed a breakout campaign by recording four tournament wins in a single season. That dominant stretch earned her a place in the LPGA Q-Series, the qualifying pathway for the American LPGA Tour.
Jin Hee Im Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
Im began her professional career on the LPGA of Korea Tour in 2016, navigating her rookie season while learning the demands of week-to-week tour play. Her early years were marked by steady development rather than immediate silverware, as she adjusted to the pressures and travel of the Korean circuit.
Through patient work on her game, Im positioned herself to compete at the top of the KLPGA leaderboard. By the end of this developmental phase, she had established the consistency required to chase tournament victories on a regular basis.
KLPGA Breakthrough (2021–2023)
The 2021 season marked Im’s breakthrough, as she won the BC Card Hankyung Ladies Open for her first professional title. That victory validated years of preparation and established her as an emerging force on the Korean tour.
Im’s star rose sharply in 2023, when she recorded four tournament wins during the season. Her red-hot form that year propelled her into the LPGA Q-Series, where she finished near the top of the qualifying field in December 2023 to earn full status on the LPGA Tour for 2024.
LPGA Tour Debut and Rookie Season (2024)
Im debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2024, fulfilling a goal she had set after narrowly missing the KLPGA Rookie of the Year award during her first season in Korea. She committed herself to capturing an equivalent accolade on the larger American stage, and her performance throughout the year suggested she was on track.
Across 24 starts in her rookie campaign, Im posted six top-10 finishes, demonstrating an ability to contend on a variety of course types. Her consistency was rewarded with a runner-up finish for the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year, finishing behind Mao Saigo. In major championship play during 2024, she tied for eighth at the Chevron Championship, tied for tenth at the Women’s British Open, and tied for twelfth at the U.S. Women’s Open.
2025 Season
Im’s strong finish at the 2024 CME Group Tour Championship earned her enough points to qualify for the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open. Heading into the major, she was ranked 31st in the world, a marker of her growing stature within the women’s game.
At the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open, Im’s major championship campaign included a made cut and a tied for 38th finish at the Evian Championship, underscoring her continued presence on golf’s biggest stages. Her 2025 schedule reflects her commitment to balancing regular LPGA Tour events with the premier championships of the season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Im’s career are her six titles on the LPGA of Korea Tour and her rapid ascent to the LPGA Tour through the Q-Series. Her runner-up finish for the 2024 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year stands as a defining early milestone in her American career.
Jin Hee Im Career Wins
Jin Hee Im has accumulated seven professional victories across two tours. Her six wins on the LPGA of Korea Tour established her as a proven winner before her move to the United States, where she added her first LPGA Tour title to her resume.
LPGA of Korea Tour Highlights
Im claimed six titles on the LPGA of Korea Tour, beginning with the BC Card Hankyung Ladies Open in 2021. Her most productive stretch came during the 2023 season, when she won four tournaments and used that momentum to qualify for the LPGA Tour through the Q-Series later that year.
LPGA Tour Highlights
On the LPGA Tour, Im secured one victory, a milestone that confirmed her ability to win at the highest level of the women’s game. Her debut season in 2024 also produced six top-10 finishes, a testament to her consistency as a rookie.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| LPGA of Korea Tour | 6 | — | — |
| LPGA Tour | 1 | 6 | — |
Jin Hee Im Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Jin Hee Im’s immediate family remains limited. She was raised in Guri, South Korea, where her early development as a golfer took place within the country’s renowned junior system.
Personal Life
Jin Hee Im focuses the majority of public attention on her professional golf career. Details about her personal relationships, marital status, and family life are not widely documented, and she has largely kept her private life out of the spotlight while pursuing her goals on the LPGA Tour.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has positioned Jin Hee Im as an established competitor rather than a newcomer on the LPGA Tour. Building on her six top-10 finishes from 2024, she has continued to compete regularly on the circuit while targeting the major championships.
A notable highlight came when her performance at the 2024 CME Group Tour Championship earned her a berth in the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open, where she entered ranked 31st in the world. At the Evian Championship in 2025, she recorded a tied for 38th finish, adding another major championship start to her growing resume.
Looking ahead, Im’s trajectory suggests continued improvement as she gains experience on American courses and within the LPGA Tour’s demanding schedule. With her combination of KLPGA pedigree, rookie-year consistency, and major championship experience, she remains one of the South Korean players to watch in women’s golf.