Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team Crowned '2-Weight Class Champions' at Yeongdeok Danojangsa Ssireum Tournament

Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team participated in the 'Yeongdeok Danojangsa Ssireum Tournament' held at Yeongdeok Culture and Sports Center in Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk, achieving the remarkable feat of sweeping two weight classes: Hallajangsa and Geumgangjangsa. (Photo by Yeongam-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] The Jeonnam Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team announced on the 27th that they achieved a great success by sweeping two weight classes, Hallajangsa and Geumgangjangsa, at the ‘Yeongdeok Dano Jangsa Ssireum Tournament’ held from the 21st to the 26th at the Yeongdeok Culture and Sports Center in Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk.

In the Hallajangsa final held on the 24th, player Oh Chang-rok defeated Kim Bo-kyung from Yangpyeong-gun Office, Gyeonggi-do, 3 to 2 to become the champion. This marked his fourth personal championship, following the Cheonhajangsa Ssireum Tournament held in Yesan, Chungnam, last November, securing his position as the strongest in the Halla weight class.

Then, in the Geumgangjangsa final held the next day, player Choi Jeong-man easily defeated Kim Min-jung from Yeongwol-gun Office, Gangwon-do, 3 to 0 to claim the championship.

Notably, overcoming an ankle injury in the round of 16 preliminary match held the previous day, he demonstrated fighting spirit and achieved his 11th personal Geumgangjangsa title, making him unrivaled in the Geumgang weight class.

On the last day of the tournament, the 26th, in the Baekdujangsa final, two players, Yoon Seong-min and Jang Seong-woo, advanced to the quarterfinals. Yoon Seong-min defeated Im Jin-won from Yeongwol-gun Office, Gangwon-do, who has previously won the Baekdujangsa title, 2 to 0 in the semifinals to advance to the final, but unfortunately lost 3 to 0 to Kim Jin from Jeungpyeong-gun Office, Chungbuk, finishing in second place.

Meanwhile, at the opening ceremony and the 9th Ssireum Day commemorative ceremony held on the 25th, Jang Seong-woo received the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award for his exemplary 12-year career as a player and for becoming a role model for ssireum athletes, along with his Cheonhajangsa championship at last year’s Cheonhajangsa Ssireum Tournament.

Thus, the Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team, by sweeping two weight classes at the Yeongdeok Dano Jangsa Ssireum Tournament held without spectators about six months after the Hongseong Seollal Jangsa Ssireum Tournament, has once again proven itself as the best ssireum team in Korea, having recorded 23 championships and two gold medals at the National Sports Festival since its founding in 2017, writing the history of ssireum.

A Yeongam-gun official said, “Since its founding in 2017, the Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team has played a significant role as an ambassador for Yeongam-gun by promoting Yeongam’s excellent agricultural and specialty products through media exposure from producing champions.” He added, “We will continue to make every effort to ensure that the Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team actively contributes to the revival of Korean ssireum and promotes Yeongam-gun.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.