Lee in hot seat for golfing during Roh memorial day
By Kang Seung-woo
Former President Lee Myung-bak
Former President Lee Myung-bak is sitting in the hot seat again for another sports activity.
On Saturday, the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) criticized the 71-year-old Lee for playing golf on Thursday, the day of the fourth anniversary of the death of Roh Moo-hyun, who preceded Lee.
Lee allegedly had a two-day outing on Thursday and Friday in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province with his entourage from his presidential term (2008 to 2013).
“There was an across-the-nation memorial for Roh in Bongha Village, Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province on May 23, but Lee played golf in nearby Geoje,” DP Spokeswoman Bae Jae-jeung said in a briefing at the National Assembly, Sunday.
“It is doubtful if Lee can read public opinion.”
Roh threw himself off a cliff to his death in Bongha amid a prosecution bribery investigation involving his family and aides during the Lee administration four years ago.
Kim Hyun, another DP lawmaker, also said on her Twitter account “It is common courtesy to recognize the dos and don’ts according to time and place. Playing golf on the fourth anniversary of ex-President Roh’s death, in the neighborhood, deserves harsh criticism.”
This is the second time that Lee has attracted controversy since he left Cheong Wa Dae in February.
In April, Lee, a renowned tennis aficionado, was accused of abusing his status in monopolizing a tennis court at the Olympic Park in eastern Seoul twice a week, making it impossible for ordinary citizens to make a reservation.
The nation’s incumbent and former government officials often come under siege for “inappropriately” playing golf despite the sport’s huge popularity in Korea.
The latest one who fell victim was defense minister nominee Kim Byung-kwan who was berated for his golfing outing during a period of national mourning for 46 sailors killed in the warship Cheonan, torpedoed by North Korea in March 2010, and eventually withdrew his candidacy two months ago.