honorary president of Korea Baduk Federation and president of Asian Go Federation
Sang-chul Shin
Following the last year, I am truly pleased to host the 18th KPMC herewith Gwangju, the place with long history and tradition, beautiful culture and nature.
Baduk has been considered the best mind-sport recently. Players with a great performance keep to show the wonderful games and the influence has spread out. The large-scale international Baduk festival, European Go Congress has been held successfully throughout Europe for over decades and America has also held its traditional congress continuously.
Baduk is expanding its influence day by day beyond the regional boundaries. In this competition, players from 57 countries around the world will participate and show their performance.
I hope all participating players can have long-lasting memories, and promote friendship through Baduk. Moreover, through such an activity, KPMC could be a major spot for exchanges to represent the international Baduk community.
Lastly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Korean prime minister, Duck-soo Han, and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Bo-gyoon Park, and, the Mayor of Gwangju Ki-jung Kang and all the officials who have made considerable efforts for this competition.
Thank you very much.
the mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City
Ki-jung Kang
I sincerely welcome all of you from each country.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Korea Baduk Federation and Gwangju Baduk Association for preparing it.
I have a very happy memory that I had played Baduk with my son for a long time.
Baduk (Go) is a sport that has been highly loved by the public.
In particular, it is a representative spiritual heritage of the East spread throughout the whole world.
Through this competition, I’m looking forward to seeing the best moves played by each representative player.
Gwangju City will also support you to shine the competition as much as possible.
In particular, we will take care of and support all of the participants including players who visit Gwangju so that they can focus on the competition without any inconvenience.
I hope that players and guests coming to Gwangju will also make precious memories that will be reimbursed for a long time while feeling the charm of Gwangju, the hometown of taste, beauty, and significance.
I sincerely cheer all of you.
Cheer up!
August, 2023
Ki-jung Kang, the mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City
Ki-jung Kang, the mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City
the president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee
Kee-heung Lee
I am pleased to congratulate the 18th Korea Prime Minister Cup International Baduk Championship, the world Baduk Festival could be held successfully, and greet and encourage all the participants.
Likewise, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the staffs of Korea Baduk Federation and the man welcoming the guests, Ki-jung Kang, the mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, as well as all officials who have spared no pains to host the successful tournament.
Recently, headed by Baduk, chess, and E-sports, ‘Mind Sports’ have been loved more and more. Particularly, in addition to traditional sports which are mainly about physical matches along with the expansion of the sports areas, the popularity of mind sports using the brain which is the core of the central nervous system has increased. In particular, the mind sports led by Baduk, chess, and e-sports have pioneered new areas in the sports fields unlike in the past.
Among them, Baduk, a traditional Eastern mind sport, has a great function for developing the brain and expanding social exchanges as well as a healthy leisure, so it would be expected the sport would be developed and expanded in the future.
Starting with the first tournament in 2006, the 18th KPMC is the most prestigious Amateur Baduk championship held in Korea. In particular, it is a Baduk festival which many Baduk people compete with excellent players from around 60 countries in the world to show their performance of Baduk.
I wish all participating players could show their performance with fair play in every game, and other participants who love Baduk could enjoy watching Baduk matches, the beauty of Korea and could make beautiful memories.
I reiterate my wish that the tournament could be encourage the spread of Baduk and the improvement of its capabilities. I sincerely wish all participants good luck and hope them come out on top.
Thank you very much.
August 26th, 2023
Kee-heung Lee, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee
Kee-heung Lee, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee
president of the Gwangju Baduk Association
Gye-sang Jang
I sincerely welcome all of you who participate in the 18th Korea Prime Minister Cup International Baduk Championship held hereby in Gwangju, the home of culture and art in the bountiful season as well as the mecca of the democracy in Korea.
The endeavor and passion of all players from each country should be praised.
Also, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Ki-jung Kang, the mayor of Gwangju sponsoring the KPMC, and everyone involved as well as the staffs of Korea Baduk Federation.
Baduk is a more interesting and instructive brain sport than any other sports developed by mankind. I’m really proud of you for choosing to play such an excellent sport. It is more meaningful to hold it again following the last year.
You are the protagonists of this Baduk tournament. To achieve your goals, please show your performance which has been honed so far. Every moment would be remembered beautifully for a long time if you could do your best in the game with your high-quality sportsmanship.
I sincerely hope that the Baduk population could expand further through this tournament which could be a venue for a festival to foster harmony and dreams of Baduk people.
Finally, I reiterate to express my deep gratitude to the officials of the Korea Baduk Federation, Gwangju City, and Gwangju Baduk Association for their cooperation and support for the successful tournament. I wish all of you good luck and good health. Thank you very much.
August 28th, 2023
Gye-sang Jang, president of the Gwangju Baduk Association
Gye-sang Jang, president of the Gwangju Baduk Association
the Governor of the Korea Baduk Association
Chae-jung Lim
Congratulations on hosting the 18th Korea Prime Minister’s Cup International Baduk Championship, a festival for amateur Baduk players around the world.
Like the last year, representative players from over 50 countries have come to Gwangju Metropolitan City. Despite the different language, I feel it is always wonderful to look at fluttering wings with the common language, ‘Baduk’.
With the advent of Baduk AI, players around the world have become more and more leveled. Of course, the results are important, but the process to reach the goal is as important as the result. Those who have achieved the desired results could smile with the results, and those who have received less-than-expected results don’t have to be discouraged. They can think positively that they can achieve better results next time.
There is a saying in Baduk, “One game is just one game.” I hope this KPMC will be the stage where you can fully show your performance that you have honed so far. Also, please make a lot of international friends during the timeframe and feel the charm of Korean food, sight, and entertainment.
Gwangju Metropolitan City holding this KPMC has held the KPMC for two consecutive years and as the third time in its history. I hope Gwangju, which successfully hold the last KPMC, will become more widely known to Baduk players around the world and become the city visited by more of them.
Baduk will be selected the sport in the Asian Games next month again after 13 years. I am looking forward to see all of you here will stand on the Olympic stage one day by every Baduk member’s effort.
Lastly, I would like to express my appreciation to the Mayor of Gwangju, Ki-jung Kang, who spared no supports for the tournament, and all officials for their efforts to hold the successful KPMC.
Thank you very much.
KBF ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.