Joohyung Kim of South Korea is relishing the prospects of adding the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) into his playing schedule this year.

The in-form 19-year-old stands a chance to do so by winning the JGTO jointly-sanctioned SMBC Singapore Open this week to secure a two-year exemption to compete in Japan.

Kim, who’s currently plying his trade on the Asian Tour and Korean Tour, revealed that he has never played in Japan and would love to put his game to the test in the highly-competitive Tour there.

“I've never played in Japan. Before COVID, that (Japan) was actually the destination I was hoping to go to,” said Kim at the tournament virtual press conference on Tuesday.

“Obviously, I might have a chance. Hopefully, if I win this week, I’ll get a card that opens up many playing opportunities everywhere in Asia.

“For now, it’s just about playing well and having a great week.”

Kim is definitely the man to beat if his current red-hot form is anything to go by.

He has just won the Singapore International – his sixth career title – last Sunday to climb to a career-best No. 89 on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

More importantly, the victory has also put him in the driver’s seat to emerge the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion this week.

Before last week’s triumph, Kim also impressed with two runner-up results at the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship in Thailand and LG Signature Players Championship in Korea.

“The goal (this year) was to get at least one win and first week out, get one win and back inside the top 100 and number one on the Order of Merit. So, big step, but it’s a bigger step this week,” said Kim.