New Zealand golf legend Dame Lydia Ko has been forced to publicly make a statement after being caught up a political stoush in South Korea.<\/p>\n
On social media Dame Lydia denied claims that she had given private golf lessons to South Korea’s first lady Kim Hea Kyung on the same day that a fire in Seoul injured a number of people.<\/p>\n
As reported by Golf Week, The Korea JoongAng Daily said that in a Facebook post on Monday, Joo Jin-woo of the People Power Party named Ko as the professional golfer who gave lessons to Kim, who is the wife of president Lee Jae Myung.<\/p>\n
“The contents of the article reported today are not true and have absolutely no relation to me,” Ko wrote on Instagram.<\/p>\n
“In particular, on the date mentioned in the article, I was attending an official event for a sponsor, and I have no connection whatsoever to the reported claims.<\/p>\n
“Going forward, if false information that has not been verified is circulated, or if articles, posts, or comments damage my reputation, I intend to take legal action as appropriate depending on the circumstances.”<\/p>\n
The Korea Times reported that South Korea’s ruling party intends to file legal action against Joo.<\/p>\n
Ko, an LPGA Hall of Fame golfer, didn’t play in South Korea last week. She is scheduled to play in Malaysia this week.<\/p>\n