[Opinion] Golf, A Sensitive Sports

Now the military leader takes turns at `golf disturbance.` When the North Korean commercial ship intruded in the South territory, the South military leaders including the Defense Minister, the Chairperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chiefs of the General Staff of the ROK Army, Navy, and Air Force, played golf even after they received the report of the North Korean intrusion.

It seems that the military considers the criticism as an intention to shake the military organization. The military reportedly argues that the relationship of the soldiers with golf cannot be judged from the perspective of the civilians. The military person`s in the golf link has to be understood as the stand-by in barracks.

It is true that the relationship between the military and golf is different from that of the civilians. Most military base complex have their own golf links for the military leaders to exercise when they had to stand by in the barracks. The cost for the golf play ranges from only about thousands won to 10-20 thousands won. Compared with the cost of the civil golf links, it is truly not a luxurious sports.

However, it must be considered what the low ranking officers and soldiers think about the golf game of the military leaders even in the emergency situation. If it turns out negative, it would negatively affect the strict military chain of command. Therefore, the behavior of the military leaders was imprudent even though the military did not create any problem to deal with the emergency situation.

The `JP`s golf` basically has the same problem. Kim Jong-Pil, the honorary president of the United Liberal Demorats, played a key role in creating `the government of the people.` He could be a powerful Prime Minister if the President Kim kept his promise to amend the constitution for the parliamentary government system.

Considering his significant contribution to the birth of the present administration and his little influence on the government, he must have lots of calculations in his mind. His frequent visit to the golf links may be understandable. He could be mortified by the harsh criticism of the press.

However, he should not forget the fact that he is still one of the most influential political figure in the Korean politics. He should have consider whether his golf play might hurt the feeling of the people who had suffered the drought and the economic difficulties. In our society, golf is a socially sensitive sports, which sensitively affects the sentiment of the people. It is probably because golf game is considered as a class symbol to the Koreans, who has particularly strong sense of equality. In addition, one must keep in mind that the golf has reminded the people of the negative words such as immorality, power-capital connection, underground market dealing, nouveau riche, extravagancy, and so on. While golf is now considered as one of many sports among the upper classes, the common people still consider it as a noble sports.

To avoid the golf game during such sensitive periods as an emergency situation, the Memorial day, or the drought season, has been considered as an appropriate deportment of the Korean government officials. The more serious efforts of the high officials to reduce the sense of class distinction are strongly recommended.

Yook Jung-Soo sooya@donga.com