South Korea forms team to prepare possible Lee-Trump golf meeting

South Korea's Blue House has established a working team to prepare a possible golf meeting between President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump. A Blue House official confirmed the preparations on October 13, Newsis reported. The team was formed in late September after Lee returned from visits to the United States and Mexico. A meeting date has not been finalized. [ 2 , 7 , 9 ]

The preparations followed Trump's instruction to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles to arrange golf with Lee during their September summit. Trump had earlier promised to play golf with Lee and his wife at a G7 summit dinner in June, the reports said. Reports describe the December G20 summit in Miami as a possible opportunity for the outing, while maintaining that the schedule is unconfirmed. [ 2 , 4 , 7 ]

Protocol secretary Kwon Hyeok-gi (권혁기) leads the team, which includes the foreign ministry, presidential security service, national security office, protocol office and culture and sports office. The group has reportedly held one in-person meeting and is reviewing Trump's previous golf outings with foreign leaders to consider how the event should proceed. A Blue House official told Yonhap that detailed preparation was needed because the outing would be a diplomatic event rather than simply a round of golf. [ 2 , 4 , 7 , 9 ]

If the schedule is confirmed, the team plans to seek advice from sporting bodies, including the Korea Golf Association, on matters such as clothing. One option being considered is a cap bearing the letters KOR or the South Korean flag, given Trump's use of caps marked USA. The preparations come as opposition politicians criticize Lee for golfing on the day of a Daegu commercial-building ceiling collapse. Seoul Economic Daily reported that the Blue House had replied that Lee was briefed at the golf course and directed rescue and recovery work. [ 2 , 5 ]