"I Thought I Wouldn't Cry..." Park Seri Declares Inability to Repay Father's Debt

Press Conference on Legal Issues Related to Father Park Jun-cheol
Mr. Park Unable to Repay Debt Any Longer
Resolution of Transfer of Daejeon Residence Under His Name
Foundation Projects for Nurturing Dream Trees Continue

Park Seri, Chairperson of the Park Seri Hope Foundation, shed tears.

Golf player turned broadcaster Park Seri is shedding tears while making a statement on the 18th at Space Share Samsung COEX Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, regarding her father's alleged forgery of private documents. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

At a press conference held on the 18th at Space Share Samsung COEX Center Galaxy Hall in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, regarding the accusation of forgery of private documents and use of forged private documents related to the Park Seri Hope Foundation, she bowed her head and said, "I am sorry that this is not good news. I came here because there are points that need to be addressed."

Park Seri suffered emotional distress due to legal issues with her father, Park Joon-cheol. Last September, the foundation filed a complaint against Park Joon-cheol at the Daejeon Yuseong Police Station on charges of forgery of private documents. The police recently forwarded the case to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment. Kim Kyung-hyun, the foundation’s legal representative, explained, "Park Joon-cheol received a participation proposal from a company establishing an international golf school and secretly made and used the foundation’s corporate seal. The establishing company submitted related documents to administrative agencies, but later we found out the seal was forged and filed a complaint." As the legal conflict escalated, the preferred negotiator status of the ‘Saemangeum Marine Leisure Tourism Complex Project,’ which Park Joon-cheol intended to participate in, was also revoked.

Park Seri acknowledged the ongoing conflict with her father. "I thought I wouldn’t cry. I am very angry too. The conflict with my father has been going on for a long time. Since my retirement in 2016, whenever problems arose, I always settled them. Because we are family, I have done my best even when issues came up, but my father’s debt problems were like a chain reaction?solving one debt only led to the next. Now, I have reached my limit. I can no longer repay my father’s debts."

She also clearly addressed the issue of the auction of her Daejeon residence. Park Seri filed a request for suspension of compulsory execution, and the court accepted it, so the auction execution is currently suspended. "It is true that the house was put up for auction due to my father’s debt issues. It is not currently on auction. We are handling it legally and properly. I have taken over the house under my name, so there is no problem. The auction is not ongoing, but the media reported as if the auction had been finalized."

Park Seri expressed her determination to focus more on the foundation’s work. "This situation is awkward. It is the first time I have experienced something like this in my life," she said. "I am living my second life after retirement, but sudden events like this are confusing. The reason for holding today’s press conference is to continue the foundation’s projects steadily. I will work even harder for the dream trees of Korea," she emphasized.

Park Seri is a ‘living legend of Korean women’s golf.’ She debuted on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour in 1998. That year, she won the U.S. Women’s Open with a ‘barefoot fighting spirit,’ becoming a ‘national hero.’ She achieved a total of 25 wins on the LPGA Tour, including five major championships, the most by any Korean. Since retiring, she has been involved in various activities such as hosting amateur tournaments in Korea and the U.S., nurturing juniors, and appearing on entertainment programs.