Yoon Administration Launches Efforts to Promote Korean Sports Representative Brand 'Ssireum'

Launch of the K-Ssirum Promotion Public-Private Joint Committee

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The government is taking steps to promote and support Ssireum, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 25th that it will launch the so-called 'K-Ssireum Promotion Public-Private Joint Committee' to foster the traditional sport of Ssireum.

On the same day, the Ministry plans to hold the first meeting at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, to discuss measures such as 'enhancing the tradition and dignity of Ssireum,' 'expanding the base of Ssireum,' 'globalizing Ssireum,' and 'increasing the appeal of Ssireum.'

The meeting will be chaired by Vice Minister Jo Yongman and attended by Park Seunghan, Director of the Korea Ssireum Research Institute; Professor Lee Manki of Inje University; Lee Gisu, CEO of Traspo Entertainment; and Song Songhwa, Director of the Korea Ssireum Association.

The committee will review plans including ▲recreating folk Ssireum rituals through historical verification ▲reviving technical Ssireum by adding one lightweight class to the existing four weight classes?'Baekdu,' 'Halla,' 'Geumgang,' and 'Taebaek'?to operate with five classes in total.

A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official stated, "Ssireum is a traditional national sport designated as National Intangible Cultural Property No. 131 in 2017 and was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2018. However, since the early 2000s, it has experienced a downturn due to the absence of major stars and the decline of technical Ssireum. We will develop measures to discover the value of Ssireum and enhance its dignity."