Actor Ryu Jun-yeol, left, celebrates a successful putt at the sixth hole during the Par 3 Contest in Augusta, Georgia, on the eve of the Masters Tournament. Ryu served as caddie for golfer Kim Joo-hyung, right, at the event. Reuters-Yonhap

Actor Ryu Jun-yeol has found himself at the center of a "greenwashing" controversy. The actor, also an ambassador for the environmental organization Greenpeace, made headlines for his participation as a caddie for golfer Kim Joo-hyung at a pre-Masters golf event in the U.S. state of Georgia.

Ryu appeared at the Augusta National Golf Club, April 10, participating in the Par 3 Contest as Kim's caddie. This event, a tradition held the day before the Masters Tournament begins, is often an opportunity for players to create lasting memories with family and friends.

During the event, Ryu, like other caddies and guests, took the opportunity to play, taking shots on the first, sixth and ninth holes. His participation follows a tradition where caddies and guests occasionally take shots in place of the players. Celebrities like singer Lee Seung-chul and actor Bae Yong-joon have also participated as caddies in the past.

Ryu's affinity for golf is well-known; he has described the sport as akin to "bringing a dead ball to life," comparing it to the trials of life and finding it both enjoyable and meditative. However, his role as a Greenpeace ambassador since 2016 clashes with his involvement in a sport criticized for its environmental impact.

Golf courses have been denounced for excessive deforestation during construction and the heavy use of pesticides for lawn maintenance, leading to significant environmental damage.

Critics argue that enjoying golf while serving as an environmental advocate is contradictory, sparking debates on social media platforms. The controversy comes amid previous public discussions about Ryu's personal life, intensifying calls for his resignation from the Greenpeace ambassadorship. Despite the uproar, Greenpeace has yet to take formal action.

At the event, Ryu, seemingly aware of the controversy, chose to reserve his comments, stating, "I prefer to keep my thoughts to myself in the current situation."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.