The Four-Character Idiom of the Year is 'Gwaibulggae'... "Not Correcting Even When Wrong"

The Meaning of Committing a Mistake and Not Correcting It
Selected as This Year's Four-Character Idiom with a 50.9% Vote Share

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Professors nationwide have chosen 'Gwaibulgae (過而不改)' as the four-character idiom of the year. Gwaibulgae means committing a mistake but not correcting it.

According to the Professor Newspaper on the 11th, this year's four-character idiom was selected through three stages. From 22 idioms recommended by the recommendation committee, a preliminary screening panel narrowed it down to five, and among them, Gwaibulgae received 476 votes (50.9%) out of 935 university professors nationwide, ranking first.

Following it were Yokgaemichang (欲蓋彌彰, 14.7%), meaning "the more you try to cover it up, the more it is revealed," and Nuranjiwi (累卵之危, 13.8%), which refers to a "very precarious situation."

Gwaibulgae was recommended by Park Hyunmo, director of the Sejong Leadership Institute and professor at Yeoju University. He explained the reason for his recommendation, saying, "This idiom well reflects the stereotypical words and actions of Korean leaders."

He added, "Whether from the ruling or opposition party, when mistakes are revealed, they say 'the previous government did worse' or 'opposition suppression' and have no intention of correcting them. Even when backward-type accidents like the Itaewon disaster occur, no politician takes responsibility," he criticized.

The reasons respondents chose Gwaibulgae as their first choice were similar. A professor in his 40s from the social sciences explained, "The current behavior of the ruling and opposition parties lacks concern for people's livelihoods and is caught up in party interests, prioritizing political strife over the country's future development," explaining why he chose this idiom. A professor in his 60s from the arts and physical education field also criticized Korean politics, saying, "It is the same whether the ruling party becomes the opposition or the opposition becomes the ruling party."

A professor in his 50s from the humanities pointed out, "Self-reflection and renewal are the paths of wise people, whereas trying to cover mistakes with self-justification is the path of petty people." Because of this, some professors lamented, "I feel even sorrowful about the reality where mistakes are neither admitted nor repented, and no improvement occurs."

Professor Newspaper selects and announces a four-character idiom that defines Korean society each year at the end of the year. Last year, the idiom chosen by professors was 'Myoseodongcheo (猫鼠同處),' meaning "cats and mice have become allies."

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