Golfing Exposed Due to COVID-19: Yeongam Geumjeong-myeon Chief "Played Again on a Weekday"

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Yeongam County Office was closed on the 9th. (Photo by Yeongam County)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Amid controversy over the fact that the head of Geumjeong-myeon in Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do, played golf with officials from the Jeonnam Provincial Office before testing positive for COVID-19, it has been revealed that he also played golf with local residents on a weekday two days earlier.

According to Yeongam-gun and local residents on the 9th, Mr. A, the head of Geumjeong-myeon (a man in his 50s, Jeonnam's 30th confirmed case), was confirmed positive on the 8th after contact with Gwangju's 117th confirmed case.

During the process of tracing Mr. A's movements, it was found that he played golf at a golf course in Yeongam with colleagues from the Public Officials Training Institute two days before he underwent specimen collection (on the 6th) due to high fever symptoms, specifically on the 4th.

The golf round at that time included 7 members from Yeongam-gun Office, 3 from Jeonnam Provincial Office, 1 from Gwangju City Hall, and 1 from Boseong-gun Office.

All participants except Mr. A tested negative for COVID-19.

However, it was confirmed that Mr. A also visited the same golf course and played rounds with local residents on the weekday of the 2nd, prior to the above event.

The golf round held as part of a local event included a total of 16 people, including Mr. A and residents.

After confirming Mr. A's positive diagnosis belatedly, the golf course conducted specimen tests on 10 staff members, including game assistants who had contact with Mr. A's group, all of whom tested negative.

Although disinfection was carried out throughout the facilities such as the clubhouse and start house, no temporary facility closures or similar measures were taken.

A Yeongam-gun official stated, “In this serious situation due to the COVID-19 crisis, the fact that a public official played golf itself is not only a violation of maintaining dignity but also morally wrong. We will verify the facts and respond strongly.”