'Eternal Guksu' Kim In 9-dan Passes Away... 'Unchanging Cheongsan' Fades
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[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Kim In 9-dan, known as the "Eternal Guksu," passed away on the morning of the 4th due to a chronic illness. He was 78 years old.
Born in 1943 in Gangjin, Jeonnam, Kim In became a professional Go player at the age of 15 in 1958.
He won the 10th Guksu title in 1966, claiming the title at the age of 23. He then achieved six consecutive Guksu titles until 1971.
From 1971 to 1975, he served as the 5th to 8th president of the Korea Baduk Association, and from 2004, he served as a director of the Korea Baduk Association, acting as an elder statesman. During his 63-year professional career, he recorded a total of 1,568 games with 860 wins, 5 draws, and 703 losses.
The late Kim was famous for his dignified playing style and demeanor, earning him the nickname "Unchanging Cheongsan (Blue Mountain)" among juniors. He was also known for buying meals and drinks for his impoverished colleagues with his prize money and game fees.
Kim In 9-dan, who valued the process over the result of the game, believed that the fast-paced Go games hosted by broadcasting companies deviated from the essence of Go, and it is said that he did not participate in TV Go matches.
In 2016, when Lee Sedol 9-dan was about to face the AI AlphaGo in the so-called "Game of the Century," Kim emphasized, "The essence of Go does not change," and said, "Go often contains life itself. Go is not just a simple battle of moves."
He had been battling stomach cancer for a long time, which metastasized to liver cancer, and his condition recently deteriorated rapidly.
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The funeral hall is set up at Yonsei University Sinchon Funeral Hall, Special Room 2. The funeral will be held as a Korea Baduk Association funeral, and the memorial service will take place on the 6th at 9 a.m. in the first-floor memorial hall.
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