Ju raises allegations that Lee and family flew by helicopter after golfing at naval base course last August

People Power Party lawmaker Ju Jin-woo holds a press conference at the National Assembly on Thursday. [Provided by lawmaker's office]
People Power Party lawmaker Ju Jin-woo holds a press conference at the National Assembly on Thursday. [Provided by lawmaker's office]

People Power Party lawmaker Ju Jin-woo on Thursday raised new allegations that President Lee Jae Myung, the first lady, and their eldest son Lee Dong-ho and his wife used the presidential helicopter during Lee's summer vacation on Jeodo island in Geoje last August.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly that afternoon, Ju claimed that during the Jeodo summer vacation last August, President Lee, the first lady, Lee Dong-ho and his wife played golf as a family of four at Hansandae Country Club, located inside the Jinhae Naval Base. "After finishing their round, they boarded a helicopter at Hansandae CC and flew to their accommodation on Jeodo," Ju said.

Ju added that the four family members "played golf like royalty and then flew by helicopter, just like royalty, back to their lodgings," and displayed at the press conference a photograph of the presidential helicopter waiting on the tarmac at Hansandae CC.

Ju said Cheong Wa Dae and the Democratic Party were offering false explanations by claiming the golf was not a privileged outing and that the reservation had been made as ordinary members of the public. "Is that really so?" Ju said. "Can they still say there was no special treatment after inviting their son and daughter-in-law to play golf at a course inside a naval base and then flying by helicopter to their accommodation on Jeodo?"

Ju directed a challenge at the government and the ruling party, saying, "Go ahead and deny it or try to muddy the waters this time too." Ju added, "No matter how many times you file complaints against me, you cannot shut my mouth."

Ju then called for President Lee to answer directly before the public, asking, "Did you invite your eldest son and his wife during your summer vacation to play golf together? Did you travel by helicopter at that time?"

Ju urged that the "emperor golf" controversy surrounding President Lee be taken up as the first case for the Special Inspector, saying, "If there is any instance of taxpayer money being misused, it must be recovered immediately and legal accountability must follow. I urge that this matter be thoroughly verified and disclosed to the public."

Speaking with reporters after the press conference, Ju said, "I understand golf was played on multiple occasions during the vacation, but there is a specific date that has been identified, which is why I called this emergency press conference." Ju added, "There is a timestamp on the photograph and the date has been confirmed, so Cheong Wa Dae will not be able to deny it."

On the recent exchange of complaints with the Democratic Party, Ju called it a "paradox of complaints," saying, "Go ahead and file a complaint over this too. If this is not the truth, isn't filing complaints exactly what the Democratic Party has always done?"

Ju went on to say, "If President Lee, the first lady, their son and daughter-in-law played golf and used a helicopter, how is the public supposed to make sense of that?" and asked, "Will they call this private life as well?"

Ju said the presidential office's special activity fund stands at 8.2 billion won ($6.14 million), all in cash, and said, "If cash payments were made, it is only natural to verify whether taxpayer money was used." Ju added, "If the previous administration brought the special activity fund down to zero and this one has raised it to 8.2 billion won, there needs to be full transparency."

Ju also said, "Because the ruling party keeps trying to muddy the waters over the details I have disclosed, I am releasing an even bigger fact," and said the helicopter evidence left no room for further debate over whether the outing was privileged golf or the kind of round anyone could play.


raining@heraldcorp.com