Chiliz Scores Big with Naver Pay in South Korea’s First NFT-Powered Golf Championship
Staff Writer • 2025-05-20
50,000+ users engage with NFT ticketing and digital collectibles in landmark blockchain experiment at KLPGA event Seoul - Chiliz has teamed up with South Korea's tech giant Naver Pay to bring NFT ticketing and digital collectibles to one of the country's most prestigious sporting events — the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship. Held from May 9 to 11 as part of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, the event saw over 50,000 users interact with digital assets via the Naver Pay Wallet, thanks to an infrastructure powered by the Chiliz Chain. Roughly 30,000 fans attended in person, while another 20,000 tuned in on Chzzk, Naver’s Twitch-style streaming service. It wasn’t just about watching golf — it was about owning a piece of it. Blockchain Meets the Back Nine Fans accessed the event through NFT-based tickets, scanned via QR codes embedded in their Naver Pay wallets. These tickets doubled as collectibles, with unique NFTs minted for each round of the tournament. Attendees who collected them were rewarded with exclusive experiences, adding a new layer of gamification to the traditional golf spectator model. And the digital reach didn’t stop at spectators. Chzzk streamers were also part of the NFT experiment, receiving their own on-chain assets as part of a broader creator economy initiative — one that hints at a future where digital fan engagement extends well beyond the venue. 33 Million Users, One Chain For Chiliz, the collaboration with Naver Pay is more than just a one-off trial — it’s a strategic gateway. Naver Pay, with 33 million users, has already integrated the Chiliz Chain as its default blockchain infrastructure, cementing Chiliz’s role in powering South Korea’s consumer-facing digital asset push. “This isn’t a pilot — this is the beginning of real-world utility for blockchain in everyday digital life,” said Jay Lee, Head of Business Development in South Korea for Chiliz. “Together with Naver Pay, we’re making digital assets tangible for millions of users, not just crypto natives.” To celebrate the partnership, every new user of the Naver Pay Digital Asset Wallet receives a commemorative NFT minted on the Chiliz Chain, marking what may soon be remembered as a pivotal inflection point for mainstream adoption in Asia’s most tech-forward nation. The Bigger Picture: NFTs, DAOs, and Fan-Centric Futures The KLPGA, often overshadowed by its male counterparts, has rapidly emerged as one of the most competitive women’s golf leagues in the world — and now, one of the most digitally innovative. The success of this NFT initiative underscores how sports properties can leverage Web3 to drive both fan engagement and revenue diversification. For Chiliz, this is just the front nine. The company plans to roll out additional partnerships across the Korean sports and entertainment sectors, including fan tokens, NFT-based loyalty programs, and even DAOs — allowing fans to vote on real decisions, from merch designs to venue choices. In a market that already leads in digital payment adoption and mobile-first innovation, the Chiliz–Naver Pay partnership is less about disruption, and more about evolution. The kind of evolution that quietly changes everything — one scan, one NFT, one swing at a time.
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