[Stones and Stories] Hidden Drama Behind Go Gold and Military Service Exemption

Every time a black or white stone was placed, the emotions of Go fans in Korea and China fluctuated. It was a moment of life-or-death reading. A single mistake could lead to defeat. At times like this, Go players exert superhuman strength to calculate possible moves. They repeat this process to the limits of human capability before making a move. Perhaps this is why the harmony of black and white stones on the board is likened to art.

On the 3rd, the Chinese Weiqi Association in Hangzhou was the stage where the art of Go was presented to the public. The men's team Go event of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games was held there. Go is a static sport. However, its invisible dynamism is undoubtedly the greatest. Is there any other Asian Games event besides Go that can take players from heaven to hell in just a few seconds? While spectators feel the thrill of these changes, the players’ blood runs dry.

In particular, the men's team final between Korea's Shin Min-jun 9-dan and China's Ke Jie 9-dan was one of the most memorable matches. In the team final, five players from each country compete, and the team that wins three or more matches claims victory. Ke Jie is the backbone and symbol of Chinese Go. From China's perspective, it is unimaginable to see Ke Jie fall. It means kneeling to Korea at none other than the Chinese Weiqi Association.

On the 3rd, at the China Go Institute branch in Zhejiang Province, China, Shin Min-jun of Korea (right in the photo) is playing against China's Ke Jie in the men's team final of the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games Go competition.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Korea devised a gold medal strategy centered on the world’s strongest player, Shin Jin-seo 9-dan. Park Jeong-hwan 9-dan, aiming for a third consecutive Asian Games gold, and Kim Myung-hoon 9-dan, who demonstrated solid skills, added strength to the team. After Byun Sang-il 9-dan suffered a blow from China, the burden on the remaining four players increased. The match between Shin Min-jun and Ke Jie, regarded as the turning point, continued with a tense flow until the end.

When Shin Min-jun was on the verge of defeat, Ke Jie made a mistake, reversing the situation. However, Shin Min-jun was somewhat behind in the endgame, making it difficult to be certain of the outcome. Ultimately, the final match ended with Shin Min-jun’s half-point victory after 324 moves. Shin Min-jun caught a big fish. Based on Shin Min-jun’s victory, Korea secured the Go gold medal with a 4-1 record.

Including Lee Ji-hyun 9-dan, who did not participate in the final, six players became the gold medalists in the men's team Go event. Among them, there is another reason why attention was focused on Shin Min-jun’s gold medal. He is the only one among the six gold medalists eligible for military service exemption. Lee Ji-hyun has already completed his military service, and Park Jeong-hwan became eligible for military exemption with his gold medal at the previous Asian Games.

On the 3rd, at the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games Go men's team final held at the China Go Institute branch in Zhejiang Province, China, the Korean Go national team, who won the gold medal by defeating China, is standing on the podium holding their medals.
From the left: Park Jeonghwan, Kim Myeonghun, Shin Jinseo, Shin Minjun, Byeon Sangil, Lee Jihyun. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Shin Jin-seo, Byun Sang-il, and Kim Myung-hoon are exempt from military service due to insufficient academic qualifications. Shin Jin-seo dropped out while attending Chungam Middle School, with his highest level of education being graduation from Chungam Elementary School. The reason the world’s top Go players do not continue their formal education is to devote themselves fully to Go training. Considering the trend of skill improvement in Go, neglecting training means losing the position of the strongest.

As with other sports, a military service hiatus can be fatal in Go. Born in January 1999, Shin Min-jun is 24 years old and at the age when he must fulfill his military duty. Had he not won the gold medal in the team Go event, his Go career could have been interrupted by enlistment.

Shin Min-jun defeated China’s top player Ke Jie in a match filled with special significance. He proudly became the recipient of military service exemption through his own strength. Like other players such as Shin Jin-seo and Park Jeong-hwan, Shin Min-jun has now eased his military burden. The match against Ke Jie on October 3, 2023, is expected to be remembered as a legendary game that changed not only the gold medal outcome but also Shin Min-jun’s Go career.