Yealimi Noh made her first trip to South Korea at just 3 months old. Her mother, Kim, hails from the Seoul area. Her father, Brian, grew up on Jeju Island. The family returned every year for two-week visits. Young Yealimi grew up speaking Korean at home in Concord, California. English was her first language, but her parents’ heritage remained deeply rooted in her identity.

Now, the 24-year-old returns to her parents’ homeland. This time, she’s wearing the colors of Team USA: red, white, and blue. Noh is competing at the Hanwha Life Plus International Crown in Goyang-si, South Korea. She replaced world No. 2 Nelly Korda, who withdrew due to injury in early October. The tournament takes place from October 23 to 26 at New Korea Country Club. For Noh, it’s the perfect blend of heritage and patriotism.

The Korean fans embraced her immediately. At last week’s BMW Ladies Championship, spectators shouted her full Korean name, “Noh Yealim.” She finished tied for fifth at 19-under par. The reception moved her deeply.

“Last week was amazing,” she gushed after the event. “It was definitely different and surreal, honestly.”

On Tuesday, Noh participated in a celebrity charity pro-am. She played alongside two popular Korean singers and an influencer. The experience showcased Korea’s unique golf culture.

“They love it,” Noh explained. “It’s just, like, such a different environment over here. They just love golf, and they’re super supportive of women’s golf. I think they really do see professional golfers as like, gods of golf, you know?”

This year has been transformative for Noh. She captured her first LPGA title at the Founders Cup in February. She shot 21-under par and won by four strokes over Jin Young Ko. The victory earned her $300,000 and ended a five-year winless drought. Over the summer, she announced her engagement to fiancé Jackson Suh in Spain.

Her father’s influence runs deep in her golf journey. They started playing together when she was seven or eight. Two years ago, Brian suggested she try the long putter. The switch completely revamped her game. “He says he’s not obsessed, but he is,” Noh said of her father. She noted his game is “really good” too.

Legendary Seri Pak also shaped Noh’s path to a professional golf career. As a junior, Noh won Pak’s AJGA event in California. That victory earned her a spot at the LPGA’s Hana Bank Championship.

“It was my first introduction to pro golf, in Korea too,” Noh recalled. “I ended up getting sponsored by Hana Bank, so she had played a very big role in my career.” Pak served as the official ambassador for this week’s International Crown.

Team USA dynamics and International Crown significance

Now Noh joins Lauren Coughlin, Angel Yin, and Lilia Vu on Team USA. The dynamics present a unique challenge. Noh has never played a round with Coughlin. She last played with Yin in 2024 and Vu early this season. “It’s actually crazy how many people you don’t play within the year,” she observed.

Future Solheim Cup captain Angela Stanford has been monitoring the American foursome. She’s evaluating potential pairings for the 2026 matches. Team USA gathered for dinner Monday night. They’ll play their first practice round together on Wednesday.

The tournament features eight teams competing in four-ball matches. The top two teams from each pool advance to the semifinals on Sunday. Thailand defends its 2023 title. However, home crowd support gives South Korea a potent edge.

Noh will undoubtedly be among the crowd favorites this week. She’s playing in a place that feels like a second home. The International Crown represents everything she embodies—honoring her heritage while representing her country.