"Show Captain as a Role Model for Resolving Conflicts"…Why Did Superintendent Jo Hee-yeon Mention Son Heung-min?

Recently, controversy has arisen after Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon commented on the so-called 'Table Tennis Gate' incident, in which a physical altercation reportedly occurred within the national soccer team. Cho stated, "I hope player Son Heung-min sets an example in resolving the conflict," sparking debate. Netizens criticized the focus of his remarks, saying, "Do schools teach victims to ask perpetrators for reconciliation?"

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.
Photo by Yonhap News

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On the 18th, Superintendent Cho expressed his position via social media (SNS), saying, "Another expectation for our captain Son Heung-min." He began by saying, "I had posted about being moved by Son Heung-min's remarks right after the soccer team’s disappointment in the Asian Cup semifinals," and added, "Later, I learned facts I hadn’t known at the time. I saw reports that Son Heung-min dislocated his finger during a clash with player Lee Kang-in."

He continued, "While overseeing educational administration, I have developed a habit of connecting any news I read to education. Perhaps that is why I tried to find hope for 'education beyond the competition of not being wrong' in Son Heung-min’s remarks right after the Asian Cup semifinal defeat," and said, "Even now, when I read sports or political news, I think of schools. Conflicts occurring in schools often reappear in society soon after."

He added, “Although the conflicts within the soccer team do not exactly overlap with the realities of our schools, it provides an opportunity to briefly reflect on attitudes and solutions toward conflicts,” and argued that Son Heung-min should extend a hand of reconciliation.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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Superintendent Cho said, “I dare to hold this expectation. I hope our captain Son Heung-min will show an example of resolving conflicts to our society and schools,” and stated, “Despite the conflict the day before the match, just as they joined hands and gave their best in the semifinal, I hope they embrace each other with open arms, reconcile, and beautifully conclude the matter.”

He also said, “In political circles or other social conflict sites, conflicts tend to escalate rather than be resolved through reconciliation. In such realities, it is difficult to maintain a community that respects diversity,” and added, “I look forward to the day when Son Heung-min and the Korean national soccer team can be introduced to the Seoul educational community as a model case of healing community wounds and moving toward reconciliation.”

Netizens have expressed bewilderment at these claims. Comments on the post included, "Soccer is soccer, education is education; they should be viewed separately," "Telling them to compromise means 'solve it among yourselves,'" and "Comparing this to school violence cases is a logical leap." One netizen criticized, "This is absurd. Should the victim who dislocated his finger in a complex incident involving organizational conflict management and Lee Kang-in’s personal character issues be the one to ask for reconciliation first?"

Earlier, the Korea Football Association confirmed, "We received reports that players had disputes during the (Asian Cup) tournament," and said, "There was friction between Son Heung-min and some younger players while they were on their way to play table tennis, during which Son Heung-min injured his finger."

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