A champion who has not completely closed the door
South Korean golfer Lee Bo-mee (이보미), one of the most recognisable Korean players to succeed on Japan's women's tour, has spoken about the possibility of playing competitively again. She did not announce a return, a tournament entry or a timetable.
The comments came during the NOBUTA GROUP Masters GC Ladies event in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, on 24 October 2026, where Lee appeared in an ambassadorial role. The Japanese specialist publication ALBA Net reported that watching the players begin their rounds made her want to play golf again.
A separate development brought her back into the headlines this week. On 28 October, South Korea's SPOTV News quoted a representative of Story J Company, the agency representing her actor husband Lee Wan, confirming that the couple expect a daughter in February 2027. Lee herself had already spoken publicly about the pregnancy on 24 October. The agency statement is confirmation, not the first disclosure.
What she actually said about competitive golf
Lee described a future in which her child, at perhaps four or five years old, could watch her competing. She suggested that a senior-level competition might eventually be an option. Crucially, this is an expression of interest in a possible future appearance, not a commitment to restart a full professional schedule.
There is no verified entry into an upcoming event, no confirmed eligibility application and no announcement from the JLPGA or KLPGA of a new tour campaign. Her remarks should not be turned into a claim that a comeback has been scheduled.
Why it matters on both sides of the Korea Strait
Lee's career forged a strong connection between Korean women's golf and Japanese fans. She topped the JLPGA Tour's official season money list in both 2015 and 2016. These were year-end money-list honours; they are distinct from individual tournament titles or major-championship victories.
Her farewell to the Japanese tour came at the end of the 2023 season. ALBA Net reports that she subsequently remained active in Korea but has been away from regular tour competition since a single appearance in 2024.
That history makes a future competitive appearance interesting, even if it would not automatically restore tour status. Entering a particular event would depend on the relevant eligibility and entry rules.
A future possibility, not a return date
As of 28 October 2026, the verified facts are straightforward: Lee has shared important family news, and she has said the possibility of playing competitively again is not ruled out. Neither statement establishes a date, tour, or tournament for a return.
The next reliable milestone, should her plans become more concrete, would be an official entry list or a statement from the player and the relevant tour. Until then, her words are best understood as those of an accomplished champion still drawn to the game.
Sources: first-hand reporting from ALBA Net, 24 October 2026; agency confirmation reported by SPOTV News, 28 October 2026.
