Civil servants encouraged to play golf

By Park Si-soo

Trade and Industry Minister Yoon Sang-jick’s golfing during his summer vacation is expected to encourage other civil servants to play the game, a sport that is viewed here as only for the affluent.

Government employees have avoided playing golf ― even with their own money ― due to negative sentiments of people to the sport and, above all, out of fear they could mingle with ill-intentioned businessmen seeking illegitimate gains using the power of those in public posts.

Many public servants were caught playing rounds of “sponsored” golf.

Local green fees easily go over 200,000 won ($170), much higher than that of the Unites States and many other nations where people can enjoy golf at reasonable prices.

“I played golf during my summer vacation” the minister told reporters, Monday.

“I did it to help boost the sagging domestic economy,” he said, referring to sluggish domestic spending exacerbated by the recent outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

The minister apparently played the “tabooed” sport in line with President Park Geun-hye’s call for an expansion of domestic spending, which would help rejuvenate the nation’s sagging economy.

Many government officials said the minister’s golfing will encourage other civil servants to hit golf courses.

“It is good news for golf lovers working at public organizations who were unable or reluctant to enjoy the sport,” a public officer told The Korea Times. “Many of them will be encouraged to go out and play golf.”

President Park early this year asked Cabinet members to play golf, believing it would help revitalize the golf industry and domestic spending. She also tried to cut or remove taxes on green fees and related services or products.

“We should make efforts to revitalize the golf industry,” Park told Cabinet members in February, giving public servants a hope that they would soon be able to play golf openly and at lower prices.

But their hope was dashed by opposition political forces who claimed it would only compromise the transparency and integrity of the public sector.

The issue has since been off the public radar.

But the minister has brought it back in times when President Park and her administration are desperate to find ways to boost domestic spending.

“It remains to be seen whether the ban will be lifted completely,” another public officer said. “But I think something will change given the minister’s remark and the government’s policy direction.”

An estimated 3 million people play golf in Korea. They spend nearly 3.4 trillion won on green fees, or buying golf clubs, clothes or other related goods.

There are more than 540 country clubs in Korea and dozens of them suffer financial trouble.