Intro

October deepens the Autumn season, and fills our minds with memories and plans. I am pleased that the economic capital of Korea, Gumi, is hosting the 8th Korea Prime Minister’s Cup International Amateur Baduk Championship in this beautiful time of the year, and I welcome all of you, including the national representatives from nearly 60 countries worldwide.

Moreover, I extend my gratitude to Mr. Heo Dongsoo, the President of the Korea Amateur Baduk Association, and all staff members for their hard work on this event, and to our respected guests who came far to support the event today.

Our host city, Gumi, is the hometown of the current President of Korea, Park Geunhye, and her father, former President Park Jeonghee. It was the starting place of the New Community Movement in the 1970's, the cradle of the nature conservation movement, as well a having one of the largest industrial complexes in Korea, exporting 35 billion US dollars annually, and reaching Gross Regional Domestic Production of 53,000 US dollars per capita. This achievement contributed 80 percent to the national trade surplus of Korea last year, and the city is growing even further with the expansion of existing sites and the new development of 5 additional industrial complexes.

Ladies and gentlemen who love baduk!

Baduk is a mind sport that respects opponents, emphasizes manners and etiquette, and disciplines our minds. The fact that baduk was admitted in the Gwangzhou Asian Games also demonstrates that baduk is becoming widely recognized.

Please perform to your fullest, have no regrets about your results, all the while enjoying your stay in Gumi, making lifelong memories.

In closing, I wish all of you the best, well-being in your life, and happiness in your family.

Thank you.

Distinguished mayor of Gumi city, honored guests, ladies, and gentlemen, I am honored and pleased to extend my warm greetings and welcome, on behalf of the Asian Go Federation to players and representatives from countries and territories around the world. I would also like to extend my sincere congratulations on the opening of the 8th World Championship games.

Over 100 million people from 75 countries enjoy Baduk. While Baduk first emerged in Asia, in terms of the number of countries, Baduk has been more popular in Europe and in the Americas. The Asian Go Federation of which I am the President, was founded in 2006. The AGF consists of membership of 14 countries and regions. The AGF organized and supervised The 4th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games held in the Korean city of Incheon, last July. The AGF’s mission is to spread Baduk all over the Asian continent.

Baduk is often compared to War. But on a more fundamental level, Baduk is a game of intellect. Many famous world figures enjoyed Baduk. Famous mathematician John Nash enjoyed playing Baduk. We saw this in the movie ‘A Beautiful Mind’. Bill Gates also remembers that his childhood dream was to become a professional Baduk player. Baduk is fun, profound and beneficial. Baduk is also a sport of the future. Recently, Baduk has begun to tread a new path, as a sport. The world science community has begun to embrace new ideas that exercising the brain is not so different from exercising the rest of the human body, like the arms, chest or legs.

Reflecting these new developments, there have already been many mind sports games held around the world. The existing sports world also has accepted mind sports into their community. Baduk is also an international conversation that needs no translation, since it only employs black and white stones to communicate. Even if we do not speak the same language, we can communicate through these stones and understand each other better.

The 8th Annual Prime Minister’s Cup World Amateur Baduk Championship, held today, will be an important event that will foster international goodwill and friendship, and better communication. I sincerely wish the best of luck to all of the contestants, and I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who made this event happen.

Thank you.

Amidst this beautiful weather of October, we are happy to host the 8th Korea Prime Minister Cup International Amateur Baduk Championship in our city, Gumi. For this, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to President Dong-soo Hur from Korea Amateur Baduk Association and all staff members for their hard work and efforts.

Also, I am grateful to all players who have come to Gumi from all over the world to participate in this tournament.

There is a saying that baduk resembles life in that there are so many variations, and that greed and obsession do not lead to good results. Moreover, baduk is gaining popularity worldwide thanks to the facts that the game transcends gender and age, does not require large space, and enhances players' concentration.

In this tournament, 62 players from all around the world will compete to prove to be the world's best. I anticipate that the tournament will enliven the baduk scene not only in Gumi but in the entire Korea, contributing to the development of Korean baduk.

Please do your best in the competition all the while you enjoy your stay in Gumi, making friendship and memorable moments.

In closing, I hope the Korea Prime Minister Cup will prosper, providing the base for the development of Korean baduk in the world, and I wish all of you the best.

Thank you.