Korean Ssireum Association to Send Demonstration Team to Kyrgyzstan to Promote Ssireum in Central Asia

*This content was translated by AI.

The Korean Ssireum Association is sending a demonstration team to Kyrgyzstan to widely promote Korean ssireum.

On the 29th, the Korean Ssireum Association dispatched a ssireum demonstration team to participate in 'The 6th World Nomad Games' being held in Kyrgyzstan.

'World Nomad Games' is an international traditional sports event centered on Central Asian traditional sports and nomadic culture, marking its sixth edition this year. Approximately 6,000 participants from over 90 countries are expected to attend the event, engaging in exchanges and competitions across various traditional sports disciplines including ssireum.

The Korean Ssireum Association participated in ssireum and Kyrgyz Kurosh at the third edition (2018), and at the fifth edition (2024) competed in Kazakh Kuresi and Alysh while operating a ssireum promotion booth in cooperation with the Korea Foundation. The association has continued traditional sports exchanges through the World Nomad Games.

The demonstration team is led by Vice Chairman of the Korean Ssireum Association, Seol Chang-heon, as team leader, with Hong Ki-jeong, member of the International Committee, serving as deputy team leader. The team includes Coach Lee Taehyun of Yongin University; coaches Lee Jeong-hoon (Kyung Hee University), Ha Bong-soo (Hallym University), and Lim Dae-hyeok (Dankook University); and four athletes: Kim Seok-ju, Lee Jae-min, and Lee Jae-ho (all from Yongin University) and Kim Tae-woong (Hallym University).

At this event, the Korean Ssireum Association aims to introduce ssireum, a traditional sport of the Republic of Korea, to the Central Asian stage while fostering exchanges with traditional sports athletes and officials from various countries through participation in ssireum events and support for competition operations.

Notably, the team will also participate in Central Asian traditional sports disciplines such as Kyrgyz Kurosh, Mas-Wrestling, and Kazakh Kuresi, in addition to ssireum. The athletes plan to directly experience the rules and techniques of each discipline, exchange with local athletes, and broaden the scope of exchanges between ssireum and Central Asian traditional sports.

Team Leader Seol Chang-heon stated, "The World Nomad Games is a meaningful stage where traditional sports from various countries gather to share their cultures. We hope this event not only widely promotes the excellence and charm of ssireum but also provides our athletes with a valuable opportunity to directly experience diverse traditional sports, exchange with local athletes, and expand their international experience."

The Korean Ssireum Association plans to further solidify its foundation for exchanges with Central Asian traditional sports through participation in this World Nomad Games, using it as a stepping stone to expand exchanges with countries worldwide and advance the internationalization of ssireum and its expansion overseas.

■ List of Ssireum Demonstration Team Members

- Team Leader: Seol Chang-heon (Vice Chairman, Korean Ssireum Association)

- Deputy Team Leader: Hong Ki-jeong (Member, International Committee)

- Coach: Lee Taehyun (Yongin University); Coaches: Lee Jeong-hoon (Kyung Hee University), Ha Bong-soo (Hallym University), Lim Dae-hyeok (Dankook University)

- Athletes: Kim Seok-ju, Lee Jae-min, Lee Jae-ho (all from Yongin University), Kim Tae-woong (Hallym University)

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*This content was translated by AI.