[Anchor]

Clashes between the rival parties are intensifying over allegations regarding Kim Hye-kyung's golfing, raised by People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo. The People Power Party leadership joined the offensive, asserting that the matter should be subject to a special inspection, while the Democratic Party strongly criticized Rep. Joo, urging him to stop raising groundless "if not, then whatever"-style suspicions.

Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the story.

[Reporter]

People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo took issue with the timing of a golf course reservation.

He claimed that on October 10, while playing golf with her family, she was briefed on a ceiling collapse in Daegu, but made another golf reservation that very same day.

[Joo Jin-woo / People Power Party Lawmaker: "Showing no regard for whether citizens are hurt or not, playing golf and booking the next round—are the people completely out of mind?"]

An official from Cheong Wa Dae refuted the claim, saying that October 10 was merely the date the reservation was entered into the system, not the date it was actually booked, and accused Rep. Joo of making yet another false assertion.

The leadership of the People Power Party also joined Rep. Joo's claims.

They urged Choi Gil-soo, appointed as the special inspector of Cheong Wa Dae for the first time in 10 years, to inspect the controversy surrounding Mrs. Kim's golfing.

[Jeong Jeom-sik / People Power Party Floor Leader: "As the first mission of the special inspector, I urge a thorough investigation into the controversy surrounding Kim Hye-kyung's 'emperor golf,' leaving not a single doubt behind."]

The Democratic Party criticized Rep. Joo, stating that he repeatedly engages in irresponsible allegations and sensationalist politics.

[Han Byung-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader: "It is an empty shell and a broken speaker. If producing and spreading fabricated information is that enjoyable, why not switch to becoming a 'cyber wrecker' YouTuber or a novelist?"]

Rep. Joo dismissed the Democratic Party's demand for an apology for mistakenly mentioning "pro golfer Lydia Ko," calling it nothing more than an attempt to dilute the issue.

[Joo Jin-woo / People Power Party Lawmaker: "(Do you have any intention of apologizing for mentioning 'Lydia Ko'?) The Democratic Party's framing demanding an apology is merely a frame to dilute this issue."]

Rep. Joo added that tip-offs inevitably contain some errors, reiterating his call to uncover the truth.

Video by Lee Seung-hwan and Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing by Lee Seung-hee | Graphics by Han Heung-soo