The presidential office has formed a working-level team to prepare for a golf outing between President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, launching what officials describe as "golf diplomacy." The disclosure has drawn attention as the conservative opposition continues to criticize Lee over a recent visit to the Taereung golf course, calling it "emperor golf."
According to political sources on the 13th, the presidential office set up the team late last month, shortly after Lee returned from a trip to the United States and Mexico. The move followed Trump's instruction on Sept. 23, during a summit with Lee, to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to arrange a golf date with the Korean president.
Trump had promised a round of golf with Lee and the first lady at the Group of Seven summit in June, and raised the idea again at last month's summit, saying, "How is the first lady doing? We should play golf sometime."
The team is led by Kwon Hyuk-ki, the presidential protocol secretary, and includes officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidential Security Service, the National Security Office, the protocol secretary's office and the culture and sports secretary's office. The team has already held one in-person meeting, reviewing Trump's past golf outings with foreign leaders and the protocol arrangements used, sources said. Officials plan to prepare in detail, treating the event as a diplomatic occasion rather than a simple round of golf.
No date has been set, but officials see a possible opening around the Group of 20 summit to be held in Miami in December. Given that Trump often wears a cap bearing the letters "USA," the presidential office is also considering having Lee wear a cap marked "KOR" or bearing the national flag, according to sources.
A professional golfer may join the round. Trump played with Hideki Matsuyama when he golfed with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Gary Player joined his round with Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Pak Se-ri and Lydia Ko have been mentioned as candidates this time.
Meanwhile, Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party and other conservative opposition figures have criticized Lee for visiting a golf course on the day a shopping mall ceiling collapsed in Daegu. The presidential office has said Lee was briefed on the accident at the site and ordered rescue and recovery efforts.