Row over first lady's golf lessons intensifies as PPP presses for answers, Democratic Party threatens legal action

The opposition People Power Party has continued to escalate its offensive over allegations that first lady Kim Hye-kyung received preferential access to a military golf facility, while the ruling Democratic Party of Korea fired back Tuesday, calling the claims false and vowing strong legal action.

PPP lawmaker Ju Jin-woo held a press conference at the National Assembly on Tuesday, saying "Cheong Wa Dae has admitted to Kim Hye-kyung's imperial golf lessons," and claiming that Kim received lessons at Taereung Country Club — a military facility that ordinary citizens find nearly impossible to book.

Ju also raised the timing of the booking, pointing to a ceiling collapse accident in Daegu. "Whether citizens are hurt or not, she doesn't care — she's out playing golf and booking her next round. Does the public not matter at all?" he said, calling on the presidential office to immediately disclose when, with whom and at whose expense the rounds were played.

The PPP leadership also demanded an explanation for how Kim came to use the golf course. People Power Party Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sik said at a national audit strategy meeting Tuesday that "the core issue is that the president's family member privately used Taereung CC, a military facility — yet Cheong Wa Dae has not clarified the basic facts." He urged the presidential office to simply confirm whether Kim played golf or not, and called on Special Inspector Choi Gil-su to leave no allegation unresolved as his first order of business.

The Democratic Party pushed back, dismissing the PPP's allegations as fabrications. Democratic Party Floor Leader Han Byung-do said at the party's own national audit strategy meeting Tuesday that "Lawmaker Ju's irresponsible allegations and inflammatory political agitation keep repeating without end," adding, "How many times now has he thrown out baseless accusations with a 'so what if I'm wrong' attitude?"

Han warned that the party would hold Ju legally accountable. "If you find it so entertaining to produce and spread false, fabricated information, why not step down from your Assembly seat and become a YouTuber or novelist?" he said. "The Democratic Party will make sure Lawmaker Ju faces legal consequences commensurate with his malicious allegations."

The dispute also spilled into the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit of the Ministry of Justice on Monday, where the allegations over Kim's use of the golf course sparked a heated exchange. When Ju requested to screen related footage during the session, committee chair Seo Yeong-gyo blocked him, saying, "If it was filmed covertly, it cannot be shown here."

Cheong Wa Dae responded to media reports citing Ju's claims by saying they were based on "unsubstantiated assertions" and urged outlets to exercise caution in their coverage.