Cheong Wa Dae makes rare disclosure of Lee's golf outing ahead of opposition attack

President Lee Jae Myung played golf with his family at Taereung Golf Course Saturday as a ceiling collapse in Daegu injured dozens of people. Cheong Wa Dae said Lee was briefed at the course, called acting National Police Agency chief Kim Jong-chul, and ordered rescue efforts and a swift response. The presidential office unusually disclosed the private outing before opposition lawmaker Joo Jin-woo accused Lee of playing VIP golf during the accident.

The Daegu collapse injured 38 people, including nine who were taken to hospitals, while all 66 people inside evacuated the building.

Cheong Wa Dae said it normally does not confirm the president’s undisclosed schedule or private holiday activities, but made an exception to prevent unnecessary controversy.

Joo Jin-woo of the opposition People Power Party said photographic evidence had been secured inside the golf course and demanded a detailed timeline of Lee’s response.

The dispute follows earlier criticism of Lee’s activities during a September 2025 fire at the National Information Resources Service and the disappearance of a Navy sailor in July.

Democratic Party spokesperson Cho Gye-won said Lee had discussed playing golf as preparation for possible golf diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Published Oct 11, 2026 5:21 pm KST

Updated Oct 11, 2026 5:22 pm KST

Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the main opposition People Power Party speaks at a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Sunday, claiming that President Lee Jae Myung played golf at Taereung Country Club on Saturday, about the same time as a ceiling collapse in Daegu. Yonhap

Cheong Wa Dae on Sunday took the unusual step of disclosing information on President Lee Jae Myung’s private golf schedule, shortly before an opposition lawmaker held a news conference questioning his whereabouts when a ceiling collapsed at a supermarket in Daegu.

The office confirmed that Lee visited Taereung Golf Club with his family Saturday, about the time reports that the ceiling of a commercial building collapsed in Daegu, injuring dozens of people.

Lee was briefed on the accident at the course and called acting National Police Agency chief Kim Jong-chul to check on casualties and injuries, Cheong Wa Dae said. He then ordered authorities to focus on rescue efforts and ensure a swift, safe response.

“We normally do not confirm the president’s undisclosed schedule or private holiday activities,” the presidential office said, explaining that it made an exception “to prevent unnecessary controversy.”

“We regret that the president’s private, undisclosed schedule is being used for political disputes,” it added.

The announcement came shortly before Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the main opposition People Power Party held a press conference alleging that Lee had enjoyed what he called “VIP golf” during the accident.

“They admitted it only 10 minutes before my news conference, after we secured photographic evidence from inside the golf course,” Joo said. He demanded a detailed timeline of Lee’s response to the accident.

The dispute follows earlier criticism over Lee’s activities around the time of other major incidents. A television entertainment program featuring Lee became controversial following a September 2025 fire at the National Information Resources Service. In July, opposition lawmakers alleged that he played golf when a Navy sailor went missing, a claim Cheong Wa Dae declined to confirm.

Cho Gye-won, a spokesperson of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, rejected the criticism, asking, “Who can foresee an accident before it happens?” He said Lee had discussed playing golf as preparation for possible golf diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump.

周六，就在大邱发生天花板坍塌事故，造成数十人受伤之际，韩国总统李在明却与家人在泰陵高尔夫球场打球。青瓦台表示，李在明在球场听取了事故简报，随后致电国家警察厅代理厅长金钟哲，下令展开救援行动并迅速做出反应。此前，反对党议员朱镇宇指责李在明在事故发生时仍在享受VIP高尔夫待遇，而总统府却罕见地公开了李在明的私人出行。

大邱大楼倒塌事故造成 38 人受伤，其中 9 人被送往医院，而大楼内 66 人全部安全撤离。

青瓦台表示，通常情况下不会确认总统未公开的行程安排或私人假期活动，但为了避免不必要的争议，这次破例公布了相关信息。

反对党国民力量党的朱镇宇表示，已在球场内获得了照片证据，并要求李在镕提供详细的回应时间表。

此前，李在 2025 年 9 月国家信息资源服务中心火灾和 7 月海军水兵失踪事件中的行为曾受到批评。

民主党发言人赵桂媛表示，李明博曾讨论过打高尔夫球，以此为可能与美国总统唐纳德·特朗普进行“高尔夫外交”做准备。

发布于2026年10月11日下午5:21（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月11日下午5:22（韩国标准时间）

周日，在首尔国会举行的新闻发布会上，主要反对党国民力量党议员朱镇宇声称，李在明总统于周六在泰陵乡村俱乐部打高尔夫球，而就在同一时间，大邱发生了一起天花板坍塌事故。（韩联社）

周日，青瓦台采取了不同寻常的举措，公布了总统李在明的私人高尔夫球日程安排。就在不久之后，一名反对派议员召开新闻发布会，质疑在韩国大邱一家超市天花板坍塌时，李在明总统身在何处。

该办公室证实，李某周六携家人前往泰陵高尔夫俱乐部，而就在同一时间，有报道称大邱一栋商业建筑的天花板坍塌，造成数十人受伤。

青瓦台表示，李明博在听取了球场事故情况汇报后，立即致电国家警察厅代理厅长金钟哲，了解伤亡情况。随后，他指示有关部门集中精力展开救援工作，确保迅速、安全地做出反应。

总统办公室表示：“我们通常不会确认总统未公开的行程安排或私人假期活动”，并解释说，这次破例是为了“防止不必要的争议”。

声明还补充道：“我们感到遗憾的是，总统的私人、未公开的行程安排被用于政治争端。”

就在主要反对党国民力量党议员朱镇宇召开新闻发布会，声称李在镕在事故发生期间享受了他所谓的“VIP高尔夫”之后不久，这一消息就发布了。

“就在我召开新闻发布会前10分钟，在我们拿到高尔夫球场内部的照片证据后，他们才承认了此事，”朱说道。他要求李某提供事故发生后应对措施的详细时间线。

此次争议源于此前李在镕在其他重大事件发生前后的一些活动。2025年9月，韩国国家信息资源服务中心发生火灾，之后李在镕主持的一档电视娱乐节目引发争议。今年7月，反对派议员指控李在镕在一名海军士兵失踪时正在打高尔夫球，青瓦台拒绝证实这一说法。

韩国执政党共同民主党发言人赵桂元驳斥了这些批评，反问道：“谁能在事故发生前预见它呢？” 他说，李在镕曾讨论过打高尔夫球，以此作为与美国总统唐纳德·特朗普进行“高尔夫外交”的准备。