Yeongam County Folk Ssireum Team, Jang Seong-woo Wins Cheonhajangsa Title for 2 Consecutive Years

2020 Cheonhajangsa Ssireum Festival, Oh Chang-rok Crowned Halla Jangsa for 3 Consecutive Years

At the 2020 Cheonhajangsa Ssireum Festival, player Jang Sung-woo was crowned Cheonhajangsa. (Photo by Korea Ssireum Association)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] The Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team achieved the remarkable feat of producing the Cheonhajangsa champion for two consecutive years and the Halla champion for three consecutive years at the 2020 Cheonhajangsa Ssireum Festival, hosted by the Korea Ssireum Association and organized by the Jeongeup City Ssireum Association, once again making their name known nationwide.

According to Yeongam-gun on the 14th, at the 2020 Cheonhajangsa Ssireum Festival held for six days from the 8th to the 13th at the Jeongeup National Sports Center in Jeonbuk, Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team’s player Jang Sung-woo won the Cheonhajangsa final on the last day of the tournament, the 13th, defeating Choi Sung-min of Taean High School 3-2 to become the Cheonhajangsa champion.

Jang Sung-woo, who caused a sensation last year by joining the Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team and rising to Cheonhajangsa, has now achieved back-to-back Cheonhajangsa titles and secured a triple crown this year by winning the Lunar New Year tournament and the Pyeongchang Peace tournament, establishing himself as a rising star in the Baekdu weight class.

Additionally, on the 10th, in the Halla champion final, player Oh Chang-rok defeated Park Jung-jin of Gwangju City Hall 3-0, marking his sixth personal championship and securing the Halla champion title at the Cheonhajangsa tournament for three consecutive years.

With these two additional championship titles at this tournament, the Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team has produced a total of 29 champions and earned two gold medals at the National Sports Festival, further solidifying their reputation as the absolute powerhouse in the ssireum arena.

Jeon Dong-pyeong, Mayor of Yeongam-gun, stated, “Over the four years since its founding, the Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team has written historic records, greatly enhancing the pride of our citizens by promoting Yeongam’s excellent agricultural and specialty products and increasing the value of the county brand,” adding, “We will continue to spare no effort to ensure that the Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team can promote both Korean ssireum and the name of Yeongam-gun.”

A Yeongam-gun official said, “From the 14th to the 19th, the Yeongam-gun Folk Ssireum Team will participate in the Jeongeup Folk League King of Kings tournament team final held in Jeongeup, Jeonbuk,” and asked for “much support and interest.”

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