Politics · South Korea · 1 hr ago
South Korea’s Democratic Party defends president over golf outing
South Korea’s Democratic Party defended President Lee Jae Myung after opposition lawmakers criticized him for golfing on the day a shop ceiling collapsed in Daegu.
The party said Lee was at a military fitness facility in Taereung, not on holiday at a private golf course, and remained ready to receive updates and give orders.
It also said presidents need time to rest.
The party accused opposition lawmaker Joo Jin-woo of pursuing Lee excessively.
Separately, Democratic lawmakers called for scrutiny of allegations concerning the academic work of Han Dong-hoon’s daughter.
They questioned whether police and prosecutors had investigated the allegations adequately while Han was justice minister; the allegations are not presented as proven.
The party also defended its leader, Kim Min-seok, after Han criticized a bill related to plagiarism prevention that was introduced by a Democratic lawmaker.
South Korea’s Democratic Party defended President Lee Jae-myung over a golf outing on the day a ceiling collapsed at a commercial building in Daegu.
The party said Lee remained on duty at the Taereung military fitness training center and could receive reports and issue instructions.
Democratic Party members accused People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo of making excessive attacks over the outing.
The dispute was discussed at a Democratic Party leadership meeting on October 12.
- Who
- President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party, responding to criticism led by People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo.
- What
- The Democratic Party defended Lee’s golf outing, saying he remained on duty and could receive reports and issue instructions.
- When
- The party discussed the issue on October 12, 2026. The date of the outing is not stated.
- Where
- Lee was at the Taereung military fitness training center. The party’s leadership meeting was held at the National Assembly in Seoul.
- Why
- The outing drew criticism because it took place on the day a ceiling collapsed at a commercial building in Daegu.
Democratic Party
People Power Party critics
Lee's golf outing
Democratic Party
The outing was at a military fitness training center, not a private golf resort, and Lee remained on duty.
People Power Party critics
The opposition criticized Lee for playing golf on the day of the Daegu building collapse, calling it “imperial golf.
The president was at the Taereung fitness training center at the time of the accident, and a military fitness center is a workplace.
He was on duty, able to receive additional situation reports and issue instructions at any time.
The president is a person, too.
Joo’s stalking of the president has gone far beyond the line.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- President
- Lee Jae-myung
- Golf location
- Taereung military fitness training center
- Incident linked to criticism
- Ceiling collapse at a commercial building in Daegu
- Democratic Party critic named
- Joo Jin-woo, a People Power Party lawmaker
- Response date
- October 12, 2026
Sources
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