[Anchor]

Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party demanded an apology, claiming that "President Lee Jae-myung played golf" yesterday (October 10), the day a ceiling collapsed at a commercial building in Daegu. Cheong Wa Dae confirmed the president's private schedule in an unusual move, stating that "President Lee visited a golf course with his family." It added, "He was briefed on the accident on site and instructed officials to make every effort to manage the aftermath."

Kim Jin-u reports.

[Reporter]

This is the video released by People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo, who claimed, "Yesterday, when the ceiling collapse occurred at a commercial building in Daegu, President Lee Jae-myung played golf at Taereung Golf Course in Nowon-gu, Seoul."

Police motorcycles are parked, and black vehicles move past quickly.

Lawmaker Joo said he received a tip that traffic control began near the golf course around 11 a.m. yesterday, claiming President Lee stayed at the golf course for nearly six hours until around 4:50 p.m. and also used an exclusive clubhouse.

[Joo Jin-woo / People Power Party Lawmaker: "It is an 'emperor's clubhouse' that opens only when the president visits. That day, the 'emperor's clubhouse' was open, and...."]

The People Power Party also issued a commentary, pointing out that suspicions of the president playing golf had also been raised when a Navy sailor went missing in the East Sea in July, and demanded that Cheong Wa Dae disclose the exact time of the initial briefing regarding yesterday's accident.

As news of Lawmaker Joo's planned press conference broke, Cheong Wa Dae issued a statement first, saying, "President Lee visited Taereung Golf Course yesterday with his family."

However, it added that President Lee "spoke directly over the phone with the acting commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency after receiving a report on the Daegu accident on site, instructing officials to exert all-out efforts for search and rescue and ensure thorough post-accident recovery," explaining that "the undisclosed holiday schedule was made public in an unusual move to prevent unnecessary controversy."

Cheong Wa Dae also stated, "We express regret over using the president's private, undisclosed schedule for political strife," and it is understood that some voices inside suggested legal action should be taken over the public disclosure of presidential security photos and videos.

The Democratic Party demanded that Lawmaker Joo stop an irresponsible political offensive, stating that it was golf practice conducted ahead of a scheduled "golf diplomacy" meeting with U.S. President Trump.

(Camera: Lee Seung-hwan | Video Editing: Lee Seung-jin | Graphics: Han Heung-soo)