Golf has again become a political flashpoint in Korea after an opposition lawmaker’s allegation against first lady Kim Hae Kyung prompted an explicit denial from LPGA star Lydia Ko and a sharp rebuttal from Cheong Wa Dae. This episode drew fresh attention to why the sport remains so politically sensitive in Korea despite becoming more accessible to the public. Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) claimed that Kim received an exclusive golf lesson from Ko on Oct. 20 and released a video that featured a woman who Joo claimed is the golfer. Ko, a Korean-born New Zealand LPGA Hall of Fame member, denied any involvement, saying she attended an official sponsor event that day. She warned of legal action over false information and defamatory coverage. Cheong Wa Dae also dismissed Joo’s account as false and warned that media outlets could be held responsible for repeating his assertions without verifying the facts. Joo subsequently removed Ko’s photograph from the video and acknowledged “some errors” but offered no apology. Golf and power “The controversy ref