Intro

It is my great joy to hold the 12th Korea Prime Minister Cup in Buan, the capital of Saemanguem in Korea, and a town vigorously taking off for a new millennium based on the 600 years of glorious history.

Dear players from all over the world who love Baduk!

Nurturer of one’s character and reason, I believe that Baduk, although expressed through mere small stones, is a guidebook for the wisdom of life which not only provides joy itself but as well as the ability to focus and think.

It is my strong belief that this year’s KPMC will be a festive event for the Baduk players of the world and a step towards better lives for those who participate.

Once again, I welcome everyone who visited Buan for the championship with a mother’s warm heart.

As the irrefutably representative town of Baduk, Buan is home to Mr. Cho Namcheol 9P, a great figure in the history of Baduk in Korea, and many other professional players.

In 2003, Buan officially acquired the trademark slogans such as ‘Korean Baduk's Mecca" and "Korean Baduk's Root“, and established the world’s first Baduk-themed park in Julpo-myeon.

Buan is proud to say that the seed of today’s Korean Baduk was rooted in it, based on the achievements including the foundation of ‘Gomso salt team’ for Korea Women’s Baduk League, and to hold many events such as Cho Namcheol Cup National Students’ Baduk Tournament and Female Professionals’ Invitational Games.

Now, Buan dreams of another leap towards the future of Korean Baduk.

In our attempt to correspond to the nickname of “Korean Baduk’s Mecca”, Buan will establish the infrastructure for Baduk and dedicate itself to the development of Baduk by holding various tournaments and events. Everyone from the young and the older, men and women will be able to experience and enjoy Baduk by visiting Buan.

I wish all the players from the world will be able to display their years of practice in this year’s KPMC and bear the fruit of the best results.

Thank you.

I would like to welcome all the Baduk players from all the world.

It is a great pleasure to hold the 12th Korea Prime Minister Cup International Baduk Championship in Jeollabuk-do, the home of Baduk.

I sincerely welcome the representatives from 60 countries and territories, executive members and lovers of Baduk.

Jeollabuk-do is home of internationally renowned professional players such as Cho Namcheol 9P, Lee Chang-ho 9P, and is still keeping up at nurturing future leaders of Baduk.

It is my humble wish that this year’s KPMC held in Buan, the town of five fortunes, will assist in expanding the realm of Baduk and invigorating the interest in it.

Baduk is an exceptionally beneficial sport for mental health in a sense that it enhances one’s focus, persistence, and thinking skills.

I hope every participant will have a chance to fully display his or her competence without regret, to improve mental health, and to learn a lot from the games.

Furthermore, a variety of things and places to experience has been prepared, so I expect everyone will be able to make great memories during your stay in ‘Korea within Korea, Vibrant Jeollabuk-do’.

Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Shin Sang-cheol, president of KABA, Mr. Oh In-seop, president of Jeollabuk-do Baduk Association, and to everyone who has worked towards this year’s KPMC.

Best wishes for all.
Thank you.

Dear members of the Baduk family,

I would like to extend my sincere congratulations on the opening of the 12th Korea Prime Minister Cup International Baduk Championship in Buan-Gun, Jeollabuk-do, and welcome all the participants from both Korea and abroad.

Baduk is a mind sport that is often compared to life, due to its long history and oriental culture.

In addition to cultivating a healthy spirit, Baduk also improves concentration, creativity, and endurance. In recent years, Baduk has become a sport that is loved by people from all generations, including children, teenagers, and the elderly.

Since the 2016 National Sports Festival in Korea, Baduk has become an official sport, and this has been a good opportunity to expand the base of the sport, starting from schools. As such, I hope that it will help to increase the status of Baduk in Korea.

This is the 12th time that the Korea Prime Minister Cup is being held, and it is where the world's top players will compete with one another, and contribute to the further development of Baduk. Participants from 60 countries will be attending this event, and fans from both Korea and abroad will be able to witness skills of high level during the competitions.

It is my hope that all the participants will stay safe and healthy during the whole event, and display their best skills in the spirit of fair play whilst creating new bonds of friendship and memories. I also hope that the participants from abroad can get to experience the Korean traditional culture.

Once again, I wish for the successful hosting of the 12th Korea Prime Minister Cup International Baduk Championship, and I would like to extend my appreciation to Mr. Shin Sang-chul, President of the Korea Amateur Baduk Association, and all who are involved for their dedication and effort in preparing for the event.

Finally, I wish for the good health and well-being of all the participants.

Thank you.

Honored guests, distinguished players, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Asian Go Federation, I would like to extend my warm greetings and welcome to those who have traveled far to Korea from various countries of the world to join in the 12th Korea Prime Minister Cup International Baduk (more commonly called “Go”) Championship. I also hope this championship will yield a great success.

Thanks to a remarkably heightened craze for Baduk from the interest in AlphaGo last year, Baduk has now positioned itself as a sport enjoyed by over one hundred million people in more than 76 countries around the world. Just as AlphaGo, which has become a byword for artificial intelligence, has suggested a possibility to set an innovative relationship between human beings and AI, the AGF, which was launched in 2006 with 14 member nations, considers itself as playing the part of bridgehead to disseminate Baduk, which originated from Asia, to the global citizens. Moreover, the AGF has constantly staged assistance projects for the Asian countries where the penetration rate of Baduk is still low. The AGF makes strenuous efforts to globalize Baduk with an aim to diffuse it someday beyond Asia and to the whole world.

Baduk contains an infinite potential for globalization in that men and women of all ages can match their skills on an equal footing beyond the walls of language and culture. Fierce battles unfolding on a board a little over a foot in width and length appeal at least those who search for the mysteries of Baduk as something more profound and mysterious than any ocean. In recent years when the issues of encirclement and isolation are globally emerging, I feel a wisp of pride as well as enormous sense of responsibility as President of the AGF in a thought that Baduk could also be able to assume a role in presenting to the conflicting mankind a possibility for communication and harmony.

This 12th KPMC championship which will proceed at Julpo Bay in Buan County in this year as well following the last year’s against the backdrop of the superb natural scenery blessed by heaven will constitute a meaningful event to promote international friendship and amiable communication. I wish all the participating players the best of luck and health. Furthermore, I would like to convey my hearty gratitude to those who have made this championship possible.

Thank you very much.