[MZ Police Officer] "I Want to Be a Police Officer Who Can Hold You Still"... A Police Officer Who Writes Poetry

Writing Poems to Encourage Fellow Officers and Police Aspirants

Editor's NoteGeneration Z is coming. It is an era where newcomers in their 20s and 30s decide the future of organizational culture. The police are no exception. The police have various departments such as criminal investigation, investigation, security, intelligence, traffic, administration, public relations, audit, and women & youth. The working environments differ across city and provincial police offices, police stations, riot police units, and district police stations or patrol offices, and the tasks vary greatly by region. From the perspective of the youngest police officers, we introduce their departments and hear vivid stories about their thoughts on work and life.

'The girl behind puts out her cigarette and hugs the grandmother / That girl stays hugged for a long time, her shoulders shaking / A beautiful embrace swoops / Into my heart and stays for a long time' (From the poem "Beautiful Embrace")

Police Officer Woo Young-won (29) working at the Eunhaeng Police Substation. Photo by Police Officer Woo Young-won

Police Officer Woo Young-won (29), whom we met at the Eunhaeng District Police Station of Siheung Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, becomes a poet after work. Two years ago, Officer Woo received a creative grant from the Daesan Literary Foundation and published a poetry collection titled "It Seems Many People Have Broken Hearts." His poems are themed around his life as a police officer, including the time he was preparing for the police officer exam, reflecting the perspective of a police officer.

He chose "Beautiful Embrace" as his most cherished poem. "Beautiful Embrace" tells the story of a police officer observing a neighborhood grandmother hugging troubled youth from the back alleys. Officer Woo wrote this poem while working at his first assignment, Neunggok Patrol Office, two years ago. He said he was inspired by a senior officer who comforted a delinquent elementary school student who had called 112 (emergency number) claiming to be emotionally hurt. Officer Woo said, "That senior officer showed me that just quietly embracing someone can make new history." He added, "I realized that police officers are not only about warnings or guidance. I wrote this poem with the thought that we can approach citizens with a heart that embraces."

The reason Officer Woo writes poems about the police is to encourage both police aspirants and active officers. He said, "I wanted to cheer on those preparing for the exam by saying, 'It will be tough, but hang in there; I endured it too,'" adding, "I also wanted to show 'this is what being a police officer is like' and comfort the officers working hard in the field."

Officer Woo Young-won handling various tasks including 112 emergency calls. Photo by Officer Woo Young-won

The Life of a Police Officer Becomes Poetry

The experiences Officer Woo and his colleagues face during police work soon become poetry. His poems often feature intoxicated individuals or youth, whom they encounter most frequently during duty. The character "Hyeong-bae," who appears frequently in his poems, resembles the youths Officer Woo has met. He explained, "I meet many kids with heartbreaking stories, and 'Hyeong-bae' is a fictional character inspired by those youths. I wanted to show through 'Hyeong-bae' how such kids can change for the better, like finding their dreams."

While meeting citizens at the district police station, Officer Woo simultaneously sees hope and despair in people. He said, "As a police officer, I meet various people and get to look deeply at humanity from multiple angles. Sometimes, even a simple word of encouragement to neighborhood kids makes the world seem warm, but when I see the gloomy and dark sides like intoxicated people or solitary deaths, I feel despair."

Police Officer Woo Young-won is explaining about a poetry collection that reflects his life as a police officer and his perspective as a law enforcement official. Photo by Lee Eun-seo.

Creating Encouragement at Fingertips

Officer Woo defines writing poetry as "creating encouragement at the fingertips." That encouragement is also directed at himself. He said, "I need someone to listen, so I write in my diary, crying and laughing." He mentioned, "The poem I wrote when I was struggling the most while preparing for the police exam was 'Crime of Disturbing Study.' It’s a bit cheesy, but reading the poem again helps me find my original intention and comfort."

Poetry also comforted him when he first started police work after being assigned to Siheung Police Station. The poem "There Is Always a Thread of Hope" reflects his feelings when he received his first assignment. He said, "Actually, my family home is in Yongin, so coming to Siheung for the first time, and hearing about 'Ansi-pyeong' (a term referring to Ansan, Siheung, and Pyeongtaek, areas with many police reports and dangerous incidents) and the high intensity of work, I was quite discouraged." However, Officer Woo added, "But when I actually arrived in Siheung, I saw many green trees and friendly locals, which gave me a hopeful feeling to live brightly."

Officer Woo Young-won heading out on patrol. Photo by Officer Woo Young-won.

A Warm and Cozy Police Officer as a Goal

Balancing the somewhat contrasting roles of police officer and poet is not always easy. When busy with district police station duties, he sometimes cannot pick up his pen. Now in his fourth year, Officer Woo handles 112 emergency calls, patrols, and civil complaints. He said, "During night shifts, I finish work at 6 a.m. the next day, and sometimes I don’t get even five minutes of sleep due to many calls. It’s not just feeling sleepy; often I feel like 'a giant sleep is overwhelming me' (from the poem 'Locking the Door of Light Sleep')."

However, police work inspires his poetry, and his sensitivity as a poet helps his police duties. With keen observation skills beyond others, he can spot potential dangers easily overlooked. Officer Woo said, "Once I noticed a playground pavilion pillar was leaning. Since it was a playground where children played, I thought it was serious and reported it to the management office, which then put up a no-access line." He also tries to understand the circumstances of intoxicated individuals with a warm heart. He said, "When meeting intoxicated people, they often lash out or curse without reason and vomit. It makes me angry, but I try to understand their situation, thinking how hard it must be for them to act that way."

Though police officer and poet are clearly different professions, Officer Woo has one goal. He wants to soften society. He concluded, "Most people I meet during police work are in urgent or angry states, which makes me think the world has become harsh. I want to protect the peace of ordinary citizens who find joy in small things and those who live rightly and sincerely."