Golf ban and presidents

One day in 1989, Kim Young-sam, then leader of main opposition Reunification Democratic Party, played golf at Anyang Benest golf club with Kim Jong-pil, then leader of minor opposition New Democratic Republican Party. Kim Young-sam hit a drive but fell on his backside. That day, the golf meeting was joined by heads of two opposition parties and the leading Democratic Justice Party. Kim Young-sam became president after the golf meeting. However, when he took office, he declared a "golf ban," saying he would not play golf while in term.

Thereafter, public officials in governments led by President Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun played golf in a cautious manner. The mood was different from times when President Rhee Syng-man, Park Chung-hee, Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo played golf without restriction. Former President Lee Myung-bak didn`t play golf in his early term in office but began playing in the latter half. Public officials naturally refrained from playing golf.

In early March 2013, President Park Geun-hye warned some generals in military who enjoyed golf during weekends even amid North Korea`s provocation threats. Public offices considered her comments as a de-facto golf ban. Three months later at the Cabinet council meeting, Lee Kyung-jae, then head of Broadcasting and Telecommunication Committee, recommended the removal of golf restrictions to President Park who didn`t make any response. Then a month later, one senior secretary told President Park while sharing a pleasant conversation with her, "We could play golf during holidays if it`s not for reception purpose." President Park shoot back by saying, "Do you have time to that you`re all busy?" Since then, golf ban has become an unwritten rule in the government and for public officials.

Before presiding Cabinet council meeting Tuesday, President Park had a tea time with ministers where she said does not recall issued a golf ban. Was it a ghost talk then? While talking about the "2015 Presidents Cup" golf competition where she`s honorary chairman to, she said, "Please make plans to vitalize golf," signaling a golf ban lift. The public circle is welcoming the news but still hesitant in playing golf. There are many jobs for low-income people including for caddies, grass management workers and restaurant employees. If she wants to vitalize golf, President Park should first play it herself.