Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of Police, Sends Indirect Message on SNS... "I Will Not Cling to the Position"

KakaoTalk Profile Message and Background
'Seolwol Gongsan Hoyangjeong (雪月空山虎養精)'
'Hyeonae Salsujangbu A (懸崖撒手丈夫兒)'

Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, who is facing increasing calls for accountability over the Itaewon tragedy, posted a message on social networking service (SNS) on the 5th that subtly expressed his feelings. It is interpreted as a determination to resolve the situation, including uncovering the truth of the tragedy, without being attached to his position.

On the same day, Commissioner Yoon publicly posted the message "Seolwol Gongsan Hoyangjeong (雪月空山虎養精)" on his KakaoTalk profile. This is part of a poem left by Chae Jegong, a late Joseon Dynasty scholar-official. It means "A tiger nurtures its spirit in the snowy moonlit empty mountain." Here, the tiger refers to Chae Jegong himself, who wrote this poem while studying in a mountain temple after being ridiculed for his poverty before passing the state examination.

This profile message is interpreted as Commissioner Yoon’s personal vow, likening himself to Chae Jegong who quietly persevered through difficult times, as Yoon faces his greatest crisis less than three months into his tenure due to the Itaewon tragedy. Analysts also see it as an expression of his resolve to take responsibility for the police’s inadequate response before and after the tragedy, the collapse of the command reporting system including himself, and to establish measures to uncover the truth and prevent recurrence.

Along with the message, the profile background features a poem by Yabu Docheon, a monk from the Song Dynasty in China. The phrase "Deuksu Banjimi Jokgi (得樹攀枝未足奇) Hyeonae Salsujangbu A (懸崖撒手丈夫兒)" is interpreted as showing his intention not to cling to his position as commissioner. The phrase means that holding onto branches is not remarkable, but letting go at the cliff’s edge is what makes a true man.

Earlier, on the 1st, during a public apology, when asked whether he planned or intended to resign to take responsibility for the tragedy, Commissioner Yoon said, "I believe the urgent priority is to resolve the current issues, manage the aftermath, and prepare future measures," adding, "When the (inspection and investigation) results come out later, I will take appropriate actions at the right time regarding any shortcomings."

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