[Unofficial translation provided by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

“Golf course in Andong faces controversy over continuing rounds despite wildfire threat,” 26 March 2025

A golf course in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, has been accused of proceeding with rounds despite the risk of a nearby wildfire.

A person identified as A, who claims to be a caddy at the course, posted on an online community on the 25th, saying, “I nearly died from the wildfire while working.” A explained, “Since the first day of the wildfire in Uiseong, the golf course smelled of smoke, and the air was filled with ash and smoke to the point where it was impossible to work without a mask.”

…A stated, “After finishing the front nine, I went to the clubhouse, and suddenly the sky darkened, with thick ash pouring down. I could even see the flames in the distance. The wind was so strong that the fire was visibly moving quickly.” A then described how, despite the frightening situation, they were pressured by a staff member to continue the round, saying, “We needed to proceed with the back nine[the second half of a golf course] It was so scary, but I was discussing it with the customers when a staff member came over and urged us to continue.” Eventually, A’s group decided to withdraw from the game, telling staff, “If you won’t cancel it, we’ll just leave.”

…In response, the golf course issued a statement to Chosun.com on the 26th, denying that they had insisted on continuing play despite the wildfire. “Although there was wind and smoke on the previous day, we did not see any visible flames,” they explained. “A team had withdrawn earlier citing strong winds and excessive smoke, and while they were processing their payment, the fire began to spread, and they evacuated.”