PM`s Play Golf in Busan

"Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan was found to have played golf in 2004 with the businessmen from Busan with whom he teed off together on March 1. Lee also invited them to a lunch at his office in Samcheong-dong," said Lee Ki-woo, vice minister of Education and Human Resources Development, who also played together with them, at a news conference on March 7. On the same day, the prime minister offered repeated apologies before the public for his inconsiderate behavior and said those with whom he played are his friends. The vice education minister confirmed that Jung Soon-taek, principal of the Busan International Foreign Language high school, Mok Yeon-soo, president of Pukyung National University, and five businessmen –a former chairman and another chairman designate of the Busan Chamber of Commerce, a large shareholder of golf courses, and an executive at a conglomerate, and another businessman –played rounds besides the PM and himself.

Lee said, "The prime minister teed off with them in September or October 2004 during his visit to Busan. They wanted to take a look at the prime minister`s office, so they had a lunch at the office with two more people." He also said, "Prime Minister Lee told an aide on February 16 that he will go to Busan to visit his mother-in-law who was sick in bed, and that it would be nice to work out too during his swing to the city. His secretary made contact with the businessmen."

His remarks run counter to the words from the Prime Minister`s Office that the golf match was scheduled long ago at the request of the businessmen and that Vice Education Minister Lee planned the meeting in January, when he was the senior secretary for the Office of Premier. The golf scandal is spreading fast, as it turned out that Lee continued to socialize with people including those under the Fair Trade Commission`s investigation, and in effect he plans the meeting himself.

Jung-Hun Kim In-Chul Lee jnghn@donga.com inchul@donga.com