Yeongam County Folk Ssireum Team Produces Hallasan Champion at 2021 Chuseok Jangsa Ssireum Tournament

O Chang-rok Achieves 9th Halla Champion Title, Taebaek Class Jang Young-jin Ranks 4th

Yeongam County Folk Ssireum Team player Oh Chang-rok secured his 9th individual championship. ⓒ Asia Economy

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] The Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team in Jeollanam-do achieved great success at the 2021 Chuseok Jangsa Ssireum held in Taean, Chungnam, starting from the 17th, with Oh Chang-rok rising to the rank of Halla Jangsa.

According to the county on the 23rd, Jangsa Oh Chang-rok defeated Lee Kwang-jae (Gumi City Hall) and Park Jeong-jin (Gwangju City Hall) 2-0 each in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, respectively, then overcame Nam Won-daek (Yeongwol County Office) 2-1 in the semifinals, and finally beat Lee Guk-hee (Jeungpyeong County Office) 3-1 in the much-anticipated final, securing his 9th individual championship.

With this victory, Jangsa Oh Chang-rok became a triple crown winner this year, following the 2021 Seollal Jangsa Ssireum Tournament and the Haenam Jangsa Ssireum Tournament, and by winning the Chuseok Jangsa Ssireum Tournament for the first time in his career, he proved himself as the undisputed strongest competitor in the Halla division.

Thus, the Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team has achieved a total of 41 championships (36 Jangsa titles, 2 gold medals at the National Sports Festival, and 3 team championships), continuing its overwhelming reputation as the top Ssireum team in South Korea.

Additionally, in the Taebaek division, Jang Young-jin placed 4th, and in the Baekdu division, Jang Seong-woo made a comeback from injury, raising expectations that the Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team will gain even more momentum in future Ssireum competitions.

A Yeongam-gun official stated, “With Oh Chang-rok’s rise to Jangsa, it has once again been proven that the Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team is the best Ssireum team in South Korea. Especially amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, we hope that Ssireum will give the residents hope and an opportunity to find joy in their daily lives.” He added, “The county is not satisfied with just producing a Chuseok Jangsa champion; we will continue to fully demonstrate our skills across all weight classes, actively promote Yeongam-gun as the mecca of folk Ssireum, and strengthen marketing of local specialties linked to this, so that it can greatly contribute to the local economy.”