A golf driving range was discovered to have been illegally built on the presidential residence compound used by former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The construction was ordered by the then Presidential Security Service chief and disguised as a guard post in official documents, according to the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI). Yoon’s personal involvement in the construction remains unclear as verification with the chief involved was not possible due to his current incarceration.
The driving range, covering 69.5 square meters, was an unauthorized extension of existing structures. The Presidential Security Service did not follow the required procedures for construction, failing to obtain approvals from the interior and finance ministries as mandated by state property law. Yoon had relocated the presidential office and residence in 2022 to enhance public connection, moving them from the Cheong Wa Dae compound to the defense ministry compound and the foreign minister’s residence.
The BAI revealed that the construction of the golf driving range was initiated by the Presidential Security Service chief, who instructed staff members to proceed with the project discreetly. The facility was camouflaged as a guard post in official documents, with the purpose misrepresented as an “employees’ waiting area.” The construction began without a signed contract, and payment was made only after completion, totaling 135 million won ($94,380), with 104 million won allocated for the driving range.
Kim, the chief involved, gave specific instructions during the construction, including planting trees to conceal the range, adjusting the golf bay’s position, and installing a non-fragile mirror. The BAI report indicated that the driving range had been utilized, with evidence of golf practice observed on-site. The auditors have urged the Presidential Security Service to take appropriate disciplinary actions against the implicated employees and construction company personnel.
