Reflections on Seoae (西厓) Ryu Seong-ryong (柳成龍)
In September of 1562, Ryu Seong-ryong (柳成龍, 1542-1607) with the pen name Seoae (西厓) visited Dosan seodang (陶山書堂), a Confucian academy's lecture hall, to gain wisdom from Yi Hwang (李滉). As soon as Ryu Seong-ryong finished introducing himself, this is what Yi Hwang, one of the most renowned erudite scholars of Confucianism at the time, said to the students around him. "This man has been sent from the heavens and is destined to accomplish great things later on." The scholar's discerning eye had immediately recognized the young man's potential and remarkable capabilities and had clearly expected Ryu Seong-ryong to succeed in dedicating himself to protect the lives of the Joseon people.
Kim Hak-su (Professor, The Academy of Korean Studies)