'We will hold him accountable, including through legal action,' party spokesperson says
The Democratic Party of Korea on Monday launched a sharp attack on People Power Party lawmaker Joo So-hyun over his allegations that first lady Kim Hye-kyung received exclusive golf lessons from a professional golfer, calling his conduct "stalker behavior — obsessively trailing the president and his family in their daily lives."
Democratic Party floor spokesperson Lee Ju-hee made the remarks at a briefing at the National Assembly's communication room. "Lawmaker Joo should stop spinning his 'imperial golf' fiction and produce evidence first," she said.
Joo had posted on his Facebook page that day, claiming that on Tuesday Kim had played golf at Taereung Country Club accompanied by a well-known professional golfer, receiving what he called "imperial lessons" from the pro in a three-person round and gaining access to a clubhouse reserved exclusively for the president. He also posted photographs he said showed Kim.
Lee rebuffed the characterization of the outing as an improper use of a military facility. "Taereung CC is operated by the Armed Forces Welfare Corps, but it is a golf course that civilians can also book and use," she said. "It is absurd to call the use of a facility open to any member of the public 'private use of a military installation.'"
She then pressed Joo on the specifics of his claims. "Who is this 'world-class professional golfer,' and what is the evidence for 'imperial lessons worth tens of millions of won'?" she asked. "Piling on sensational adjectives does not turn allegations into facts."
Lee also accused Joo of criminal conduct. "Publicly presenting unverified allegations as fact and damaging someone's reputation is itself a crime," she said. "A person who habitually engages in criminal acts — spreading false information and obsessively hounding the president and his family — is hiding behind the status of a National Assembly member."
She went on to say: "Lawmaker Joo should stop leaking innuendo from behind the shield of parliamentary immunity and lay out every piece of evidence in full. If he wants to play the role of an online rumor-monger, he should take off his Assembly member's badge and devote himself to YouTube alone."
Lee also signaled legal action against Joo. "The Democratic Party will no longer stand by while Lawmaker Joo habitually publishes false information," she said. "We will hold him accountable by every means available, including legal action."
On the possibility of a formal complaint, she added that the party would "closely monitor everything taking place inside and outside the national audit proceedings and take whatever steps are necessary."
addressh@heraldcorp.com
