Federal prosecutors indicted two Korean American brothers accused of running an illegal golf tee time broker scheme that netted them more than $700,000. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, working with IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), said the indictment followed a year-long probe into nationwide tee time reservations, with a focus on 17 courses in Los Angeles and Orange County.
On September 11, 2025, authorities arrested Se Youn “Steve” Kim, 41, of Buena Park, and Hee Youn “Ted” Kim, 41, of Pomona. Both work as MRI technologists and used aliases such as “Manager Kim” and “Manager Te.” At a hearing in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, they pleaded not guilty and were released on $20,000 bail each. Trial is scheduled for November 4, 2025.
According to the indictment, between 2021 and 2023 the brothers reserved thousands of tee times nationwide, concentrating on Southern California. They targeted high-demand weekend morning slots and resold them through KakaoTalk, collecting payments via Venmo and Zelle. Prosecutors allege the brothers spent proceeds on a Hawaii timeshare, luxury vehicles, and designer goods from Chanel, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and Prada.
The indictment also accuses them of hiding more than $1.1 million in income, combining broker profits and wages from their medical jobs. In June 2022, Se Youn Kim incorporated Buddy Tour Inc. in Buena Park, serving as CEO and CFO, while Hee Youn Kim acted as secretary. They obtained an IRS Employer Identification Number (EIN) and opened a corporate account. Prosecutors charged Se Youn Kim with two counts of tax evasion, one count of filing false tax documents, and two counts of failure to pay taxes. Hee Youn Kim faces two counts of tax evasion and three counts of failure to pay taxes. Each could face up to five years in federal prison if convicted.
The case was first reported in March 2024 by The Korea Daily, citing a video from golf influencer Dave Pink and tips from SDGC members. On September 12, 2025, Joseph Lee of SDGC said the indictment showed the seriousness of the case and should serve as a warning to other brokers. Coverage soon spread to the Los Angeles Times and other mainstream outlets.
In response, the Los Angeles City Golf Division banned bot reservations and imposed a deposit requirement for tee time bookings. Meanwhile, five SDGC members filed a class-action lawsuit against the city, alleging it failed to act against brokers and thus violated both implied contract and public trust. The case was later withdrawn following negotiations, and the city revised its booking system.
Prosecutors noted the investigation remains ongoing, drawing attention to whether additional indictments may follow in the korean american tee time broker indictment case.
BY HANKIL KANG [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]
