At Legislation and Judiciary Committee, dispute over "Mrs. Kim's golf"; Democratic Party and Joo Jinwoo clash over counter-complaints

Lydia Ko, Named as the Golf Instructor, Denies the Claim: "It Has Nothing to Do With Me"

A sharp exchange between the ruling and opposition parties took place on Oct. 26 at the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee over a golf video of Kim Hyegyeong, which is believed to have been filmed recently at Taereung CC.

Rep. Joo Jinwoo of the People Power Party raises allegations during a comprehensive parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Justice and other agencies at the National Assembly on Oct. 26, claiming that First Lady Kim Hye-kyung took golf lessons accompanied by a famous professional golfer. 2026.10.26 Photo by Yoon Dongju

Joo Jinwoo of the People Power Party posted a video on his social media account showing someone believed to be Kim practicing golf, along with the claim that “on Oct. 20, when a fire in Yeoksam-dong caused 19 casualties, Mrs. Kim played golf in an extravagant manner accompanied by a famous professional golfer.” He added that she “enjoyed a round of golf with three people at Taereung CC and even opened the presidential-only luxury clubhouse.” He also asked, “A private lesson on the course with a world-class professional golfer costs tens of millions of won. Who paid for it?” and claimed, “One man also played golf, and the Lee Jae-myung family’s private use of military facilities is a crime.”

Cheong Wa Dae immediately countered that the claims were “false,” and told media outlets reporting on them that “repeating a politician’s one-sided claim in quotation marks without even conducting basic fact-checking, despite the claim not being based on facts, is an abdication of the media’s responsibility to verify information.” It added, “We ask that you exercise caution in your reporting.”

Lee Juhee, floor spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, also issued a written briefing, saying, “Taereung CC is operated by the Military Mutual Aid Association, but it is a golf course that civilians can also book and use.” She countered that “it is absurd to describe using Taereung CC as ‘the private use of military facilities.’”

The dispute spilled over into the Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting held at the National Assembly that day. When Joo tried to show the video during the committee’s parliamentary audit, Democratic Party committee chair Seo Young-kyo stopped him. Joo then claimed, “Professional golfer Lydia Ko was there with her, and this shows [Kim] receiving a lesson on the course,” adding, “If I can’t show it here, I’ll release it outside.”

However, Lydia Ko, the golfer identified as the instructor, denied the claim in a post on her social media account, saying, “The reported article has nothing to do with me,” and “On the date mentioned in the article, I was attending an official event for a sponsor.”

The Democratic Party announced in a media notice that it would file a complaint against Joo for “spreading false information,” while Joo pushed back, saying he would “file a counter-complaint for false accusation.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.