"Park Tae-hwan Injured by Golf Ball Hit by Friend, Retina Torn"…Court Rules "Non-Prosecution Justified"

Golfer Injured at Adjacent Hole During Golf Match Over 2 Years Ago
Prosecutors Decline Prosecution, Court Reaches Same Verdict

Former national swimming athlete Park Tae-hwan (35), who was accused of injuring a golfer in the adjacent hole while playing golf about two years ago, was found not guilty by the court following the prosecution's decision.

On the 29th, the Seoul High Court dismissed the rehearing request filed by the complainant, Mr. A, on the 26th. A rehearing request is a system where a complainant or accuser who disagrees with the prosecution's decision not to indict asks the court to decide whether to file a public prosecution instead. If the court accepts the rehearing request, the prosecution must file charges.

Athlete Park Tae-hwan. Photo by Asia Economy DB

Mr. A filed a complaint against Park in November 2021, claiming that while playing golf at a golf course in Gangwon Province, he was hit by a ball struck by Park from the adjacent hole, injuring his eye and head. It is known that Mr. A suffered an injury where the inside of his retina was torn, creating a hole. Immediately after the accident, Mr. A filed a criminal complaint against Park and also filed a civil lawsuit seeking damages. However, the police judged that Park was not guilty of negligent injury and dismissed the case. Dissatisfied with this, Mr. A filed an objection, and the case was transferred to the Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office.

The prosecution decided not to indict Park, citing that Park hit the ball following the instructions of the caddie and that slices (where the ball curves sharply to the right while flying toward the target) are not uncommon in amateur games. Mr. A appealed the prosecution's decision not to indict but was dismissed in November last year. He then filed a rehearing request, but the court's judgment was the same as that of the prosecution and police.