Profile: Songdo patrol officer on biggest job of his career — protecting the Presidents Cup

By Daniel Kim, Pedroh Kim and Sean Choi
GSS correspondents

For the rest of the world, the Presidents Cup is about birdies, pars, and eagles. However, for Songdo patrol officer Dong Hwan Yoon, the event is about keeping lives safe.

The Cup is being held for the first time in Asia from Oct. 8 to Oct. 11 at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in the Songdo International Business District in Incheon City. With Songdo’s population of 80,000 expected to double — in part thanks to VIP visitors including President Geun Hye Park and former President George W. Bush — law enforcement agencies have had to meticulously prepare for any potential threats or dangers in Incheon. Yoon is no exception.

Standing at about 180cm tall, Yoon exudes an aura of security and confidence. From a distance, his lean figure disguises his built­up muscles. Up close, the veins and contours of his arms warn off any potential perpetrators. Despite being only 25 years old, and just two months into his career in law enforcement, the bruises on his knuckles delineate the harsh reality of his job.

As a cadet, Yoon endured extensive training and schooling at the Central Police Academy in Chungcheong Province for eight months. During this time, he survived multiple written examinations, fitness ability tests, and oral interviews. As well as being tested in virtually every human aspect, he enrolled in the 39 diverse police training courses ranging from traffic incident investigation to data safety.

During his interview with cijournalism.org, his calm voice complemented his spiked, black hair, revealing his readiness for anything. His eyes were firm and never flickered or showed any sign of uncertainty. All, qualities expected from a man tasked with protecting a city.

Yoon was assigned to the police station in Songdo just two months ago. The Presidents’ Cup is the first large event he has been involved in ever since he became a patrol officer.

“Although I am quite nervous about having to protect the citizens and visitors’ lives, the senior officers understand my hardships and encourage me to try my best,” he said.

Yoon’s countenance shows a slight flash of concern, but he dismisses his anxiety with a smile. For him, being a police officer is more than just a profession. It is his mission in life.

“As a police officer, I find satisfaction in helping people in need. Also, the fact that that I can work in a wide variety of fields, such as traffic control, guarding, and crime control appeals to me most,” he said.

In the future, Yoon sees himself as a specialist in the women/youth department, which deals with prevention of sexual crimes, domestic violence, and school violence. There is conviction in his voice as he reveals his desire to protect the most vulnerable members in the society.

But before he becomes a specialist, he wants to be knowledgeable in the general operations of the police by working in other departments. “Become a generalist first, then become a specialist. This is what the senior officers told me,” he said.

While Yoon builds his career, he also enjoys his personal life. One of the biggest interests is athletics because he majored in physical education in college. He enjoys sports in general, such as soccer, badminton, and swimming. As a result, he said, “when I am out of my duty, I exercise two to three hours per day.” Also, during his leisure time, he enjoys reading books and creating interior design because he lives by himself.

Before he was assigned to police station in SongDo, Yoon completed his military service by serving as a riot police in Jeju Island. ”Completing military service is an essential requirement for the police officers,” he said. But what gives Yoon the drive to fulfill his duties is his strong motivation and passion about his career. Yoon’s father was a police officer who educates new police officer in Central Police Academy, is his greatest inspiration for becoming a police officer.

“When I visited my father’s workplace, I was awed by the passion he put into his work,” Yoon said. “I imagined myself standing in his place, and that experience kindled my desire to become a police officer.”

The fact that he serves to create better society helps him to get motivated. He said that he always gets motivated by something his senior officer once told him: ”When I am able to prevent a person’s heart from breaking, I know that my life has been meaningful.”

—This story was published with cijournalism.org, the student-led news website of Chadwick International School. For more information, contact CI Journalism editors-in-chief Diana Minjin Kim mkim2016@chadwickschool.org and Sarah Choi s2choi2017@chadwickschool.org.