President Lee Jae-myung's Eldest Son Sues Rep. Joo Jin-woo

Lee Dong-ho, the eldest son of President Lee Jae-myung, filed a defamation complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 5th against People Power Party Rep. Joo Jin-woo, who raised suspicions of 'imperial golf' (allegations of using a golf course at will without special qualifications or scores). According to Yonhap News reporting on the 5th, Mr. Lee submitted the complaint against Rep. Joo to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency that day. The complaint argues that Rep. Joo spread the allegations under Mr. Lee's real name even though the claims were untrue.

The remarks in question were made at a press conference held at the National Assembly communication hall on the 29th of last month. Rep. Joo claimed that the presidential couple and the eldest son and his wife played golf together at Hansan Dae Country Club inside the Jinhae naval base during their summer vacation in August last year. He even released a photo described as showing a helicopter parked at a heliport at the time.

Mr. Lee flatly refuted the claims in his complaint. He stated, "I did not visit Hansan Dae Country Club during the summer vacation period, nor did I play golf there." In other words, he argues that Rep. Joo publicly stated false facts and damaged his reputation.

Lawyer Lee Jae-hong (River Law Firm), representing the complainant, said, "The complainant is an individual before he is the President's son, so long as he does not perform public duties." He added, "Even if the President's family's vacation is considered a matter of public interest, repeatedly targeting a private individual by name through press conferences, social media, and YouTube broadcasts without verifying the facts goes beyond the scope of political criticism."

Meanwhile, Rep. Joo posted on his Facebook page on the afternoon of the 5th that he would "reveal the truth behind the imperial golf allegations through a countersuit."