[Sudam (手談)] Why Does Politics Admire Baduk Philosophy?

Opening moves, divide and conquer... Go terms permeate politics
Choices blinded by impatience even 'sever' hope

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] In Baduk, placing stones on the board is an act of pioneering the unknown world. The flow of the game changes depending on the placement of black and white stones.

The difference between a hair-trigger clash and the leisure of a peaceful era is just one move. The imagination that creates the world. The charm of Baduk is closely connected to politics. In fact, many politicians have drawn lessons from Baduk philosophy. That is why they went beyond mere interest in Baduk to reverence.

In fact, it is hard to find a more useful means than Baduk terminology to concisely convey political intentions.

One representative word often used in politics is ‘Poseok (布石)’. When reporting on a president reviewing the blueprint for governing the country, it is expressed as preparing the national Poseok. Poseok means the early moves in Baduk to create a favorable flow.

The word ‘Bokgi (復棋)’, often used to mean reflecting on past events when a politician experiences defeat or hardship in an election, is also frequently used.

Originally, Bokgi refers to the process of replaying the stones placed by oneself and the opponent from start to finish after finishing a Baduk game.

There is also the word ‘Kkomsu’, which refers to setting traps to induce the opponent’s mistakes in the relationship between ruling and opposition parties. In Baduk, Kkomsu means a sneaky or underhanded move. It carries the opposite meaning of ‘Jeongsu (正手)’. Those skilled in Kkomsu are regarded as cunning petty persons both in politics and Baduk.

Another noteworthy word is ‘Jachungsu (自充手)’, which in politics means a choice that puts oneself in a tight spot. Originally, Jachungsu in Baduk refers to an act that reduces one’s own moves in a life-and-death struggle, hastening the path to death.

The word ‘Gallachigi’, which appeared frequently in the last presidential election, is also originally a Baduk term. In Baduk, it means placing a stone in the central part of the side when the opponent’s stones are on both corners.

In Baduk, it is a choice to weaken the opponent’s forces and secure one’s own life, but in politics, the term has been distorted. It means dividing people by generation and gender and inciting fights to split the nation and gain reflexive benefits.

Besides these, ‘Surikgi’ (reading moves based on reality analysis to predict future developments) and ‘Kkotnori Pae’ (a favorable situation where one does not suffer losses no matter what) are also representative words frequently used in politics.

The reason Baduk terms are deeply embedded in political history is not unrelated to lessons derived from experience. Just as in Baduk, the crossroads of victory and defeat inevitably come in politics. At that time, merely waiting for the opponent’s foolish mistakes or scheming to secure life usually fails to achieve the intended goal.

Rather than hoping for luck through Kkomsu, it is better to plan for the future through a graceful defeat. Scenes where choices blinded by impatience lead to actions that even castrate future hopes are deeply accumulated in our history. This is a lesson worth reflecting on in politics, Baduk, and life.