Changnyeong-gun Successfully Concludes National Folk Ox Wrestling Competition

Cheongdo Bull 'Gapbeom' Ascends as the Strongest at Baekdu Level

Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongnam Province announced on the 11th that the 19th National Folk Bull Wrestling Competition, held from the 4th to the 10th, concluded successfully with about 5,000 spectators visiting the venue.

As a national competition, a total of 152 famous wrestling bulls from 11 regions nationwide, including Changnyeong, Changwon, and Cheongdo, participated, delivering thrilling matches.

The 19th National Traditional Bull Wrestling Competition held in Changnyeong-gun. [Image provided by Changnyeong-gun]

The competition was divided into Baekdu, Hangang, and Taebaek weight classes, and proceeded with a winner-takes-all format based on a draw bracket. In the Baekdu class final for bulls over 801 kg, Cheongdo’s ‘Gapbeom,’ making its first appearance, caused a major upset by winning against Cheongdo’s Wolbong. In the Hangang class, Uiryeong’s ‘Pungsan’ won, and in the Taebaek class, Gimhae’s ‘Hallabong’ took first place.

Other placements included runner-up Wolbong (Cheongdo), 3rd place Yacheon (Changnyeong), and 4th place Gangtu (Uiryeong) in the Baekdu class; runner-up Rasong (Jinju), 3rd place Dalppang (Cheongdo), and 4th place Wolseong (Daegu) in the Hangang class; and runner-up Jangsutu (Cheongdo), 3rd place Bau (Changnyeong), and 4th place Jetu (Cheongdo) in the Taebaek class.

At the opening ceremony held on the 8th, Seong Jin-hwan, the 10th and 11th president of the Changnyeong-gun branch, and Oh Chan-dae, the secretary-general, were awarded plaques of merit for their contributions to the development of the Changnyeong Folk Bull Wrestling Competition.

Additionally, the Korea Folk Bull Wrestling Association Changnyeong-gun branch and the Changnyeong-gun Saemaeul Women’s Association each donated 1 million won in scholarships to the Changnyeong-gun Talent Development Scholarship Foundation.

Chairman Kang Byung-gu said, “We are grateful to those who visited the Changnyeong bull wrestling matches with their families during May, the month of family. We will prepare even more diverse events next year.”

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