By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

A court has ruled that playing golf for money is a form of gambling.

The Supreme Court Monday upheld an appellate court's ruling that handed down eight months in prison to a 55-year-old man, Seon, who was found guilty of habitual gambling.

Another man indicted on the same charges was given a two-year suspended sentence, while another two received a one-year suspended term, each.

They were accused of playing golf for money over 32 times between December 2002 and May 2004. They gave 500,000 won per stroke to the winner during the first nine holes and 1 million won during the last nine holes.

A lower court first acquitted them of the charges. ``In gambling, the issue is swayed by `chance,' like a slot machine or poker. But in sports games, the issue is mainly decided by players' skill and ability. So, playing golf for money is not gambling,'' it said.

``If betting on golf is gambling, a Skins Game, in which the winner of each hole takes a prize, is gambling as well. If so, it will make professional golfers Park Se-ri and Grace Park also gamblers,'' the court said.

However, the appeal court found them guilty, saying it was impossible to forecast the result of each game even though it largely depended on a players' ability.

``Coincident in gambling means a situation where participants cannot forecast the result exactly or cannot control the result. So, golf betting has the aspect of `chance' and `luck,' and it is a gamble,'' the high court said.

The court also said, ``The authorities regulate gambling in order to protect economic ethics by punishing those not obtaining money through fair labor. There is no reason to treat golf betting differently from other gambling.''

The top court acknowledged this high court ruling.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr