A notice is posted on the web page of the Seri Pak Hope Foundation, which denies the foundation's involvement in a Saemanguem development project. Yonhap

The Seri Pak Hope Foundation, led by former golfer Pak Se-ri, 46, has filed a complaint with the police against her father for forgery, leading to the revocation of the preferred bidder status for a development project in Saemanguem, where her father intended to participate as a developer.

Saemangeum is an area located on reclaimed land in North Jeolla Province.

The Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency (SDIA) has discovered that Pak's father submitted false documents during the verification process of his proposal for the project, according to Yonhap News Agency.

The decision to revoke the preferred negotiator status for the project to develop a tour resort complex in Saemangeum comes two years after the developer was initially selected as the preferred bidder.

The SDIA said that the private developer's project proposal explicitly mentioned the participation of the Pak's foundation in the international golf school project. Additionally, Pak's father falsely claimed to be the foundation's chairman and illegally used its seal.

When the agency inquired about the foundation's involvement in the project, the foundation responded that they were unaware of it.

Recently, Pak's foundation posted a notice on its website stating, "Director Pak Se-ri has no plans or intentions to establish or host an international golf school, including in Taean County, Saemangeum or any other location nationwide."

Confirming the foundation's lack of involvement, the SDIA decided to revoke the preferred bidder status and reclaimed credit guarantee securities from the private developer, amounting to approximately 2 percent of the direct investment (300 billion won or $127 million), equivalent to 6 billion won.

The preferred negotiator is entitled to receive 6 billion won with the securities from Seoul Guarantee Insurance.

Pak Se-ri speaks at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship's media conference at the Westin Chosun, Seoul, Feb. 19 Yonhap

Legal action led by Pak Se-ri

An SDIA official said, "We understand that the private developer was selected as the preferred bidder due to the high scores received for the international golf school project, which Pak's father intended to promote. Pak's father carried a business card claiming he was the chairman of the Seri Pak Hope Foundation and even participated in presentations, making us believe he genuinely represented Pak Se-ri."

Previously, the foundation filed a complaint against Pak's father for forgery and other charges with the Yuseong Police Station in Daejeon last September. The case was transferred to the prosecution last month and is currently under investigation by the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office.

A lawyer for the foundation said, "Pak's father received a proposal from a company to participate in the establishment of an international golf school. He then secretly created and used the foundation's seal. The company submitted these forged documents to administrative agencies, and once we discovered the forgery, we filed the complaint."

The lawyer added, "The forged documents and seal are visibly different from the actual foundation's documents and seal."

A foundation official said, "All decisions of the foundation are made through the registered board of directors. This case was also officially referred for investigation through the board. Pak Se-ri, being one of the directors, agreed to the legal action against her father."

Pak Se-ri / Yonhap

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