20s Customer Blinded by Golf Ball from 15m Away... Caddie Fined

Court Recognizes Negligence Resulting in Injury
Caddie Failed to Exercise Duty of Care, Including Asking Victims to Move

A caddie has been fined in connection with an incident at a golf course in which a customer suffered a serious eye injury after being struck by a golf ball.

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On April 26, Yonhap News reported that Judge Lim Jinsu, presiding over the Criminal Division 2 of the Cheongju District Court, recently sentenced a caddie in her 30s, identified as A, to a fine of 4 million won for professional negligence resulting in injury. The caddie had been indicted without detention.

Previously, on June 11, 2023, at around 11:30 a.m. at a golf course in Cheongju, A was accused of neglecting her duty to ensure safety. At the time, a customer in his 20s, identified as B, whom A was responsible for, was severely injured after being hit by a golf ball.

B was struck in one eye by a golf ball hit by a fellow player who took his shot from a point 15 meters behind and to the left, resulting in blindness in that eye. At the time of the accident, A was waiting near a golf cart, about 40 meters away from the group.

Judge Lim stated, "The defendant had a duty of care to check whether anyone was in the direction of play and, if so, to request that they move or to stop play altogether. However, the defendant did nothing and merely waited near the cart," explaining the basis for the sentence.

This verdict is being interpreted as a clear example of the legal responsibility for safety management at golf courses extending beyond accidents between users, and also being imposed on caddies who oversee the flow of play.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.