[Dispatch=Park Hyejin Reporter] 'When there's an uphill, a downhill surely comes / Crisis is only an opportunity for me / Don't overthink it, just go for it / What's so special about life' ('Just Go for It' excerpt)

A melody hummed while driving became a song. Singer Song Pro's (real name Song Kyung-seo) debut track "Just Go for It" came into the world this way.

A song created while thinking of students who crumbled whenever they competed soon spread to the field. Now it has become a "mental song" that elementary school golfers play in the car on their way to tournaments.

This is the story of singer Song Pro. He is a KPGA professional golfer and a singer. On the 5th, he appeared on SBS Life's "The Trot Show." He heated up the atmosphere with realistic lyrics and pleasant stage manner.

How did a pro who has held a golf club for over 30 years come to hold a microphone? Dispatch met Song Pro on the 2nd. We heard about the unprecedented path of a current professional golfer's debut as a singer.

Pro Song Kyung-seo won the overall championship at the 1993 Korea Junior Championship. He joined KPGA in 1999 and currently works as a commentator and lesson broadcaster for JTBC Golf.

He is known in the golf world as a "master of putting." He has taught Bae Cheon-hee, An Seon-ju, Lee Mi-rim, Jo Wooyoung, Huh Seok-ho, Lee Min-young, Seo Yeon-jeong, and Shin Da-in. He currently operates a player-exclusive academy at 88CC.

He decided to become a singer three years ago after suddenly losing a family member. He revealed, "'What's the point of working hard?' I felt anxious and depressed."

After that, his attitude toward life changed. "In the past, my expression was sharp, and I got angry often when teaching players. These days, I think a lot of the mindset that 'it's not death, so what,' has accumulated. It's okay if things don't work out, and it's good if they do," he said.

He incorporated that feeling into his debut song "Just Go for It." "I made the song thinking, 'It's not death, so why not just hit (the ball),' wondering why people are so scared. 'What's life anyway,' that's exactly the core," he explained.

His students were the inspiration for making the song. "There are friends who play well but fall apart mentally when it comes to competition. I hummed 'just go for it, what's life anyway,' and my composer friend Arvin made it into a song," he said.

Actually, he initially declined the song. "I thought it was too much for me. I suggested giving it to another trot singer, but the composer told me, 'This is a song about your life, so you have to do it.' That's how I recorded it," he said.

He approached the singing challenge by just going for it, rather than being afraid. "I just went for it (laughs). Life is always like that," and he reflected, "I think the desire to (sing) was inside me."

However, his first performance left him disappointed. It was "Dunes Night Dance Ya" held at Lavebelle Golf & Resort Dune Course in Chuncheon, Gangwon. He didn't perform at his usual level.

"I wasn't prepared enough. In golf terms, it was like I went to 'take a nap.' Coming down from the stage, I felt so foolish. I didn't seem like a professional golfer or a singer. I felt like I should be entertaining people, but I only acted formal, so I regretted it."

His family became strong supporters. "When the trot broadcast is on, my daughters say, 'Dad's song is better, why isn't it on?' Then I tell them, 'Dad isn't there yet,'" he said.

The response from the golf world has been good. "I was worried the image as a coach would become light, but people around me actually like it. Athletes in sports need to reach the top to be recognized, but I want to show that there are other paths," he hoped.

A year has passed since his debut. Song Pro reflected, "There are so many people who sing well, but I try to do it sincerely," and added, "While singing, I've become more dedicated to golf as well."

Both fields share the commonality that one must learn throughout life. "With golf, even when it seems done, there's always something to fix. My friend K.Will also still researches how to sing. I realized that both singing and golf require constant refinement," he said.

He plans to continue showcasing trot in the future. "Trot is fun. Since I'm older, I wanted to mix in stories about life and sing. I want to make and perform one song per year that contains my life," he conveyed.

He said with a laugh, "I'd like to have fans," and continued, "Without fans, when I go on stage, other singers' fans tell me to come down quickly. That motivated me. I want to work hard and build fans."

Song Pro has announced he will donate his activity earnings. But before earning any profit, he spent his own money. "I thought it was sneaky to say 'I'll do it if it goes well, and if not, then not.' So I first donated 10 million won to the Korea Golf Association and others," he said.

"The music revenue is essentially in the negative, but now I want to live while looking around at my surroundings. I lived off golf alone, but I realized I did nothing for the golf world. Men's professional tournaments aren't popular these days, but I hope even this small amount helps change awareness."

He also has professional goals remaining. "From childhood, I want to take a player I've raised myself to the LPGA stage if female, or the PGA stage if male, once together. In Korea, when a player succeeds, the coach changes. I want to become a mentor-student relationship like in foreign countries, staying together humanly until the end," he hoped.

Finally, he left a message for his first fan.

"Just as I feel proud watching my students rise from the bottom, I would be grateful if you watch me from now on continuously. There are many better singers, but I can only thank you for trusting and supporting me. I will be a singer who can continue walking with you."

<Photo=Seunghoon Lee Reporter (Dispatch)>