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President Lee's son files golf-claims complaint, MBC reports

His lawyer says Lee Dong-ho had tolerated scrutiny as the president's son, but considered the disputed allegations a step too far.

Channel: MBCNEWS ·

South KoreaStory of November 7, 2026Trari Newsroom

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'오래 참았다' 李 장남 반격.. 변호사 밝힌 '주 고소' 이유 [뉴스.zip/MBC뉴스]

Things we can learn from the video

Press to jump

0:01Joo Jin-woo presents golf and helicopter-travel allegations involving the president's family at a parliamentary press conference.
0:35MBC reports Lee Dong-ho's defamation complaint and his denial that he visited the military golf course.
1:12Lee's lawyer explains why his client decided the disputed allegations warranted legal action.
1:30MBC revisits the alleged Lydia Ko golf lesson and reports her representatives' rejection of that account.
2:50The Democratic Party files a separate police complaint; Joo subsequently announces plans for a counter-complaint.
4:45Joo rejects reporters' calls for an apology and defends his right to question information supplied to him.

Lee Dong-ho, the eldest son of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, has filed a criminal defamation complaint against an opposition lawmaker over allegations involving golf outings and helicopter travel, South Korea's Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) reports.

The broadcaster says Lee denies having even visited the military golf course at the center of the allegations. His lawyer, Lee Jae-poong, explains that his client had accepted a degree of scrutiny despite being a private citizen because his father is president. The lawyer describes the disputed statements as falsehoods that went beyond what Lee felt he should tolerate.

The report shows Joo Jin-woo, a lawmaker from the conservative People Power Party, holding up a helicopter photograph at a parliamentary press conference. Joo raises allegations concerning the president, his wife and his eldest son's household, and insists that he is confident in his information.

MBC's compilation combines its November 5 report on the complaint with two October reports about related allegations. Those earlier segments concern first lady Kim Hye-kyung's purported golf outing at Taereung Country Club and a claimed lesson from New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko. MBC reports that Ko's representatives rejected the lesson allegation.

The dispute also involves demands for an apology. In the footage, Joo says he could apologize in a private meeting but rejects a public apology, characterizing the pressure as a political framing by the left. Asked by reporters, he defends an opposition lawmaker's right to raise questions based on information received.

According to MBC, the Democratic Party separately filed a complaint with Seoul police alleging defamation through false statements. Party spokesperson Lee Ju-hee disputes the account of preferential treatment, saying the supposed luxury clubhouse does not exist at Taereung. Joo, in turn, says he intends to file a counter-complaint against the presidential couple alleging dereliction of duty and other offenses.