The second half of the 2026 Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour season is heating up around the "Seo-Kim showdown" between close friends Seo Kyo-rim (Samchully) and Kim Min-sol (Doosan Engineering & Construction), both born in 2006. The two have each racked up three wins, leaving the rivalry finely balanced. Fans are increasingly eager to see which of them will be the first to reach four victories.
Seo captured the title at the KLPGA Tour's Mediheal·Hankook Ilbo Championship (total prize money of 1.2 billion won), which ended on the 16th at Mont Vert Country Club (par 72) in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. She carded a combined 18-under 270 to finish two strokes ahead of runner-up Kim, who shot 16-under 272.
The victory was Seo's third trophy of the season, following the Celltrion Queens Masters and the Inca Financial The Heaven Masters in June. It matches the win total of Kim, who was first to reach three victories with her win at the McCol·Mona Yongpyong Open in June.
The two are the only players with multiple wins on the KLPGA this year. Except for the Rookie of the Year category, for which only Kim qualifies, the two are battling for the lead in every major category, including most wins and the money title. Kim earned her regular tour card in August 2025 but did not appear in more than 50% of the season's events, so she is competing under rookie status this year. Seo won the 2025 season's Rookie of the Year award.
Kim leads in the money rankings. With her three wins this season, she has earned 1.12162 billion won to hold sole first place in prize money. Her lead over second-place Seo (1.00167 billion won) stands at 119.95 million won.
In Player of the Year points, Seo pulled ahead with this week's win. Before the tournament, Seo had trailed Kim by three points for second place in the standings, but her victory added 80 points to bring her total to 390, moving her past Kim (353 points) by a 37-point margin into first place.
With the "Seo-Kim showdown" growing more gripping by the week, the outcome is likely to hinge on which player reaches four wins first. Results at the season's three remaining major events, including the Hana Financial Group Championship in September, and other marquee tournaments carrying total prize money of 1.5 billion won are expected to decide the contest.
