Lydia Ko threatens legal action over South Korea First Lady golf claims

Lydia Ko has been drawn into a political controversy in South Korea after an opposition lawmaker alleged that first lady Kim Hea Kyung received private golf lessons from a prominent professional golfer.

The controversy began when Joo Jin-woo, a lawmaker from South Korea’s main opposition People Power Party, alleged that Kim, the wife of president Lee Jae Myung, had received a private golf lesson at Taereung Golf Club in Seoul on October 20.

Joo reportedly claimed to have obtained video footage and other evidence to support his allegations. 

Ko, 29, was reportedly identified as the professional golfer involved, but the LPGA star has categorically denied any connection to the reported incident.

The timing of the alleged golf outing has added to the controversy.

October 20 was also the day a man in his 70s reportedly set fire to two buildings in Seoul’s southern Yeoksam-dong district. 

The incident left five people seriously injured and another 14 with minor injuries.

Joo’s allegations have prompted a strong response from South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party of Korea, which reportedly announced plans to file a criminal complaint against the opposition politician.

The party accused Joo of repeatedly spreading false information about the president’s family.

Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office, also warned that it would hold those who presented unverified allegations as fact or circulated false information accountable.

The dispute follows an earlier accusation from Joo concerning President Lee’s own golfing activities.

On October 11, the opposition lawmaker alleged that Lee had played golf on the same day a commercial building collapsed in Daegu, injuring 38 people.

The presidential office subsequently explained that Lee had played during a holiday after repeatedly postponing the round because of overseas trips and weekend commitments. It also said the president had paid for the round himself.

Ko has not commented on the wider political dispute, focusing instead on rejecting the allegation involving her.

Ko rejected the claims on social media, insisting she had no involvement in the alleged outing and was attending an official sponsor event on the date in question.

"The content of the article reported today is not true, and has nothing whatsoever to do with me," Ko wrote in Korean on her Instagram Story. 

She added that she would consider legal action against those responsible for spreading unverified information or publishing material that damaged her reputation.

"In particular, on the date mentioned in the article, I was attending an official event for my sponsor, and I have no connection at all to what was reported.

"Going forward, I plan to take legal action, depending on the circumstances, against any articles, posts or comments that spread false information whose facts have not been verified or that damage my reputation."

The controversy comes despite Ko not competing at last week’s BMW Championship in South Korea.

Born in Seoul, Ko moved to New Zealand at a young age and has represented the country throughout her professional career. 

She is one of the most successful players in women’s golf, having won 23 LPGA titles and earned induction into the LPGA Hall of Fame in 2024.

Ko also won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, cementing her status as one of the sport’s leading figures.

She is scheduled to compete at this week’s Maybank Championship in Malaysia as the LPGA continues its four-event swing through Asia.

Her name has therefore become a major talking point in South Korea away from the golf course, with the political dispute continuing to develop.

For now, Ko’s position remains unequivocal.

She denies giving the first lady a golf lesson, says she was attending a sponsor event on the date in question and has warned that she may take legal action if false or damaging claims continue to circulate.