By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

A golfer who wounded a caddy with a miss-hit ball was found guilty of causing an accidental injury.

The Supreme Court Sunday upheld a lower court ruling that ordered the golfer, 58-year-old Jeong, to pay 2 million won in fines. Jeong was indicted on charges of negligence resulting in injury.

In September 2006, Jeong was attempting to hit a ball at a golf course in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province when he allegedly slipped, hitting the ball into the belly of a caddy, Kim, who was standing about eight meters away.

Kim had to undergo medical treatment for seven weeks, and Jeong was indicted.

Jeong claimed that miss-hitting a ball should be an act immune from responsibility because it occurred during a sports game.

The first and appellate courts, however, found Jeong guilty and slapped him with 2 million won in fines. ``Participants in a sports game have a duty to look around in order to prevent injuries of nearby people. But he wounded the victim by hitting the ball in an unexpected direction, not keeping the duty,'' the courts said.

``In sports like boxing and judo, those injuring other people may be exempt from responsibility, as participants expect injuries and give tacit consent to it. But in golf, it is unlikely that a caddy can expect him or her to be inured,'' the courts said. The top court also upheld the lower courts' ruling.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr