Joo Jin-woo alleges a “lavish golf outing” by Mrs. Kim Hye-kyung... Blue House vows to hold outlets accountable for false reporting

[Financial News] The Blue House urged media outlets to exercise caution in their reporting after People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo claimed that Kim Hye-kyung, the spouse of President Lee Jae Myung, played golf with a famous professional golfer on the day of a fire in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul.
On the 26th, the Blue House issued a notice under the name of the Office of the Senior Secretary for Public Relations and Communication titled “Regarding reports quoting an unfounded, one-sided claim by People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo,” and said this.
The Blue House said that “quote-based reporting,” which repeats politicians’ one-sided claims unsupported by facts without even the most basic fact-checking, is an act of shirking the media’s responsibility to verify information.
It went on to stress, “‘Quote-based reporting’ does not grant immunity for reporting false information,” adding, “Not only the politicians who raise allegations but also the media that spread them without verification bear corresponding responsibility.”
It added, “We will hold those responsible strictly accountable for reporting unverified claims as fact or spreading false information,” and urged, “Please exercise caution in your reporting.”
On Facebook that day, Rep. Joo claimed that Mrs. Kim had played a round of golf accompanied by a world-renowned professional golfer on the 20th, when the fire occurred in Yeoksam-dong, and posted a photo. He went on to say that he would release a related video during a National Assembly audit.
The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) countered that it was “an absurd fiction,” saying, “It is a crime to publicize unverified allegations as fact and damage someone else’s reputation,” and said it would take legal action. 
[email protected] Ahn Gaeul Reporter