[EXPLAINER] From Kim Young-sam to Lee Jae Myung: golf's enduring political trap

An allegation that first lady Kim Hea Kyung received a golf lesson from Lydia Ko on Oct. 20 reignited debate over golf and political accountability in Korea. Ko denied involvement, and Cheong Wa Dae rejected the claim; Rep. Joo Jin-woo later acknowledged some errors but did not apologize. Golf remains politically sensitive because it is associated with wealth and privilege, while presidential outings can raise questions about public duties, spending and judgment. The sport can also serve as a diplomatic tool, as President Lee Jae Myung prepares for a possible round with Donald Trump.

Lydia Ko said she attended an official sponsor event on Oct. 20 and warned of legal action over false information and defamatory coverage.

Former President Kim Young-sam said he would refrain from golf during his 1993-98 presidency and removed a practice facility inside Cheong Wa Dae.

Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan resigned in March 2006 after criticism of a golf outing with businessmen on a national holiday that coincided with the start of a nationwide railway strike.

The Board of Audit and Inspection found in January that a golf practice facility at former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Hannam-dong residence lacked required approvals, and construction documents described it as a guard post.

Cheong Wa Dae formed a task force to arrange a possible golf round between Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump around the December G20 summit in Miami.

Published Oct 27, 2026 4:23 pm KST

Updated Oct 27, 2026 5:43 pm KST

Sport's growing accessibility has yet to dispel its association with wealth, privilege

A screenshot from a video released by Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the main opposition People Power Party shows a golfer, left, that Joo identified as first lady Kim Hea Kyung at Taereung Country Club in Seoul, Oct. 20. Yonhap

Golf has again become a political flashpoint in Korea after an opposition lawmaker’s allegation against first lady Kim Hea Kyung prompted an explicit denial from LPGA star Lydia Ko and a sharp rebuttal from Cheong Wa Dae.

This episode drew fresh attention to why the sport remains so politically sensitive in Korea despite becoming more accessible to the public.

Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) claimed that Kim received an exclusive golf lesson from Ko on Oct. 20 and released a video that featured a woman who Joo claimed is the golfer.

Ko, a Korean-born New Zealand LPGA Hall of Fame member, denied any involvement, saying she attended an official sponsor event that day. She warned of legal action over false information and defamatory coverage.

Cheong Wa Dae also dismissed Joo’s account as false and warned that media outlets could be held responsible for repeating his assertions without verifying the facts.

Joo subsequently removed Ko’s photograph from the video and acknowledged “some errors” but offered no apology.

“The controversy reflects lingering criticism of presidential families’ golf outings despite the sport’s growing popularity,” said Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University.

He referred to golf’s wider appeal since the 1990s as Korean players succeeded overseas and the number of courses increased.

“Golf has become more accessible, but its association with wealth and privilege remains strong. This perception makes outings by presidents and their families easy targets for political attacks, even without evidence of wrongdoing,” the professor said.

Several former presidents reinforced golf’s political sensitivity by treating not playing as a sign of discipline and commitment to public service.

During his 1993-98 presidency, Kim Young-sam declared that he would refrain from golf and removed a practice facility inside Cheong Wa Dae.

Under Park Geun-hye’s 2013-17 administration, criticism of military officers golfing during heightened North Korean threats similarly fostered an atmosphere of restraint.

In 2015, Park said she had never imposed a golf ban and called for measures to support the industry, illustrating how presidential signals could shape officials’ behavior without a formal prohibition.

Beyond discouraging officials from playing, some golf controversies also raised questions about their judgment and use of public money.

During Roh Moo-hyun’s 2003-08 presidency, Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan resigned in March 2006 following criticism of a golf outing with businessmen on a national holiday that coincided with the start of a nationwide railway strike. His golfing partners’ business interests compounded questions about his conduct.

In January this year, the Board of Audit and Inspection found that a golf practice facility at former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Hannam-dong residence had been built without required approvals.

Construction documents described it as a guard post, concealing its purpose.

Those findings concerned government resources and administrative procedures beyond the act of playing golf.

President Lee Jae Myung’s recent outing prompted a different debate over emergency responsibilities.

Cheong Wa Dae acknowledged that Lee visited Taereung Country Club with family on Oct. 10, the same day a commercial building’s ceiling collapsed in Daegu and injured more than 30 people.

It said he received reports at the course, spoke directly with the acting police chief and issued response instructions.

Nevertheless, the opposition questioned the timing of his actions.

Golf as foreign policy tool

The sport also carries diplomatic value.

Lee is preparing for a possible round of golf with U.S. President Donald Trump around December’s G20 summit in Miami, following Trump's earlier suggestion. Accordingly, Cheong Wa Dae formed a task force to arrange the meeting, giving the president a practical reason to practice.

Lee is not the first Korean president to practice golf with diplomacy in mind.

During his 2022-25 presidency, Yoon, Lee’s predecessor, also turned to golf for diplomacy, with his office saying in November 2024 that he had resumed practicing for a possible round with Trump.

“Whether for diplomacy or personal leisure, playing golf does not itself amount to misconduct,” said Jung Jae-hwan, a political science professor at Inha University.

“What matters is whether officials fulfill their duties, properly cover the costs and avoid using their position to secure unfair benefits or inconvenience other golfers. Any criticism should therefore rest on evidence of such problems rather than the sport’s association with wealth and privilege.”

10月20日，有传言称第一夫人金喜京接受了高丽迪的指导，学习高尔夫球技，这再次引发了韩国关于高尔夫与政治问责制的讨论。高丽迪否认参与此事，青瓦台也驳斥了这一说法；国会议员朱镇宇后来承认犯了一些错误，但并未道歉。高尔夫运动在政治上仍然十分敏感，因为它与财富和特权联系在一起，而总统的高尔夫活动可能会引发人们对公职、开支和判断力的质疑。此外，这项运动也可能成为一种外交工具，因为李在明总统正在为可能与唐纳德·特朗普的高尔夫球赛做准备。

Lydia Ko表示，她于10月20日参加了赞助商的官方活动，并警告称，有关虚假信息和诽谤性报道将面临法律诉讼。

前总统金泳三曾表示，他在 1993 年至 1998 年的总统任期内将不打高尔夫球，并拆除了青瓦台内的一处练习设施。

2006年3月，李海灿总理因在国庆节当天与商界人士打高尔夫球而受到批评，随后辞职。当时正值全国铁路罢工开始之际。

今年1月，审计监察委员会发现，前总统尹锡烈位于汉南洞的住所内的一处高尔夫练习场缺乏必要的审批，而施工文件将其描述为哨所。

青瓦台成立了一个特别工作组，安排李在明和唐纳德·特朗普在12月迈阿密G20峰会前后进行一次高尔夫球赛。

发布于2026年10月27日下午4:23（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月27日下午5:43（韩国标准时间）

体育运动日益普及，但其与财富和特权的联系依然挥之不去。

韩国主要反对党国民力量党议员朱镇宇公布的一段视频截图显示，10月20日，在首尔泰陵乡村俱乐部，一名高尔夫球手（左）被朱镇宇指认为韩国第一夫人金喜京。（韩联社）

在一名反对派议员对第一夫人金喜京提出指控后，高尔夫再次成为韩国的政治焦点，LPGA球星高宝璟明确否认了这一指控，青瓦台也进行了严厉的反驳。

这一事件再次引发人们对这项运动在韩国为何仍然如此敏感——尽管它越来越受到公众的关注——的关注。

主要反对党国民力量党（PPP）议员朱镇宇声称，金某于10月20日接受了高某的专属高尔夫球课，并发布了一段视频，视频中的一名女子被朱镇宇称为高尔夫球手。

韩裔新西兰籍LPGA名人堂成员高宝璟否认参与此事，称她当天只是出席了赞助商举办的官方活动。她警告称，如果发现虚假信息和诽谤性报道，将采取法律行动。

青瓦台也驳斥了朱某的说法，称其不实，并警告媒体若未经核实就转载他的说法，可能会被追究责任。

Joo随后从视频中删除了Ko的照片，并承认存在“一些错误”，但没有道歉。

“尽管高尔夫运动越来越受欢迎，但总统家庭打高尔夫球的争议仍然反映出人们对这项运动的持续批评，”明知大学政治学教授申烈说。

他提到，自 20 世纪 90 年代以来，随着韩国球员在海外取得成功以及球场数量的增加，高尔夫运动的吸引力越来越大。

“高尔夫运动如今变得更加普及，但它与财富和特权的联系依然十分紧密。这种认知使得总统及其家人的出行很容易成为政治攻击的目标，即便没有任何不当行为的证据，”这位教授说道。

多位前总统将不打高尔夫球视为一种自律和对公共服务的承诺，从而强化了高尔夫球的政治敏感性。

在 1993 年至 1998 年担任总统期间，金泳三宣布他将不再打高尔夫球，并拆除了青瓦台内的一处高尔夫练习场。

在朴槿惠 2013 年至 2017 年执政期间，对朝鲜威胁加剧期间军官打高尔夫球的批评，同样营造了一种克制的氛围。

2015 年，朴槿惠表示她从未实施过高尔夫球禁令，并呼吁采取措施支持该行业，这表明即使没有正式禁令，总统的信号也能影响官员的行为。

除了让官员们对打高尔夫球失去兴趣之外，一些高尔夫球争议事件也引发了人们对他们的判断力和公共资金使用情况的质疑。

在卢武铉2003年至2008年担任总统期间，李海瓒总理因在国庆节当天与商人打高尔夫球而受到批评，并于2006年3月辞职。当时正值全国铁路罢工开始之际。他的球友的商业利益加剧了人们对他行为的质疑。

今年1月，审计监察委员会发现，前总统尹锡烈位于汉南洞的住所内建造的高尔夫练习场未经必要审批。

施工文件将其描述为哨所，掩盖了其实际用途。

这些发现涉及政府资源和行政程序，而不仅仅局限于打高尔夫球这项活动。

李在明总统最近的一次外出引发了关于紧急情况责任的另一场辩论。

青瓦台承认，李某于10月10日携家人到访泰陵乡村俱乐部，而就在同一天，大邱一栋商业建筑的天花板坍塌，造成3​​0多人受伤。

报道称，他接到了有关案件的报告，直接与代理警察局长进行了交谈，并下达了应对指示。

然而，反对派质疑他采取行动的时机。

高尔夫作为外交政策工具

这项运动也具有外交价值。

继特朗普此前提议后，李明博正准备在12月迈阿密G20峰会前后与美国总统特朗普进行一场高尔夫球赛。为此，青瓦台成立了一个工作组来安排此次会面，也为总统提供了一个实际的练习理由。

李明博并非首位将外交理念融入高尔夫球运动的韩国总统。

李在前总统尹锡悦在 2022 年至 2025 年的任期内也曾利用高尔夫球进行外交活动，其办公室在 2024 年 11 月表示，他已恢复练习，以备可能与特朗普进行一轮比赛。

“无论是出于外交目的还是个人休闲目的，打高尔夫球本身并不构成不当行为，”仁荷大学政治学教授郑在焕说。

“重要的是官员们是否履行职责，是否妥善承担费用，以及是否利用职权谋取不正当利益或给其他高尔夫球手带来不便。因此，任何批评都应该基于此类问题的证据，而不是这项运动与财富和特权的关联。”