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

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