Yeongam-gun Strives to Become the Mecca of Ssireum in 2020

Elementary, Middle, and High School Visiting Ssireum Classes Operated for the First Time

Yeongam-gun Government Office (Photo by Yeongam-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Jeon Dong-pyeong) announced on the 9th that it has started its administration with a strong determination to make the Year of the Rat a year of revival for Ssireum, creating a new history for Korean Ssireum.

Yeongam-gun successfully hosted the Chuseok Champion Ssireum Tournament last year, and within three years of its establishment, it produced Halla Champions and National Champions at the Cheonhajangsa Ssireum Festival. So far, it has achieved 19 championship titles and won two gold medals at the National Sports Festival, firmly establishing its position as the top prestigious Ssireum team in Korea.

Together with the Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team, Korean Ssireum has been designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 131 since 2017, and with its joint registration as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage between North and South Korea and the successful hosting of the 2019 Chuseok Champion Ssireum Tournament, it is experiencing a second revival period.

Accordingly, along with the construction of the Folk Ssireum Comprehensive Sports Center, aiming for Ssireum with the citizens, the Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team will operate the ‘Visiting Ssireum Classroom’ for elementary, middle, and high school students in the district for the first time this year. They also plan to hold a children’s musical performance titled ‘The Five Generals of Heaven and the Ssireum Story’ for kindergarten students in the district, actively promoting policies that align with the central government and the Korea Ssireum Association’s efforts to revitalize Ssireum.

Governor Jeon Dong-pyeong emphasized in his 2020 New Year’s address at the opening ceremony, “Since the Chuseok Champion Ssireum Tournament held in our county, the popularity of Ssireum has been increasing day by day, especially among the younger generation, and our Yeongam-gun will firmly establish itself as the mecca of Korean Ssireum.” He added, “We will actively consider establishing Ssireum clubs in elementary, middle, and high schools in the future to create an environment where Ssireum talents can be nurtured.”