Korea Ssireum Expands Globally from Gumi

Traditional Korean Wrestling Education for USFK Personnel

Gyeongbuk Ssireum Festival to be Held in December, Participants Include Elementary, Middle, High School Students and USFK

Gyeongbuk Province, Gumi City, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Ssireum Promotion Institute, and the Gumi City Sports Council have jointly taken a successful first step in the project titled “Support Project for Revitalizing the Transmission Community of National Intangible Cultural Heritage - Ssireum,” which aims to globalize Korean Ssireum.

In April, the city applied for the project under the Cultural Heritage Administration’s public contest with the Ssireum category and was finally selected. The project targets the progressive transmission and development of community-based intangible heritage sports, with the goal of leading the revival and globalization of Ssireum.

Starting in September, five domestic Ssireum experts, including Lee Taehyun, chairman of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Ssireum Promotion Institute and former Cheonhajangsa (Ssireum champion), and Jeong Changjin, coach of the Gumi City Hall Ssireum team, will conduct educational programs for U.S. Forces Korea personnel.

USFK Ssireum Training.

In December, the “Gyeongbuk Ssireum Grand Festival” will be held in Gumi, where participants from elementary, middle, and high school education programs, U.S. Forces Korea, and the Gumi Ssireum team will compete in weight-class tournaments. The event aims to bring together U.S. Forces Korea, KATUSA soldiers, and residents of Gyeongbuk Province for the “Gyeongbuk Ssireum Hanmadang.”

On the 7th, the “Euratchacha! Ssireum Class” was held at Camp Carroll, a U.S. military base in Chilgok, Gyeongbuk, teaching the basics and practical techniques of Ssireum to U.S. Forces Korea personnel.

USFK Ssireum Training.

Led by Chairman Lee Taehyun, the instructors divided the Camp Carroll soldiers into two groups to teach basic warm-up exercises and stretching. All participants received Ssireum satba (belt) with their names written in Hangul, drawing attention.

This program was planned as an event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance, aiming to strengthen bonds between U.S. Forces Korea and local residents and to explore the potential for globalizing Ssireum, a Korean intangible heritage. Around 40 Camp Carroll soldiers will receive experiential Ssireum education combining theoretical understanding and practical training in the base gymnasium until November 30.

After completing the program, participants will compete in the “U.S. Forces Korea Jangsa Ssireum Tournament” held in December.

Kim Youngsoo, Secretary General of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Ssireum Promotion Institute, said, “Ssireum, a traditional national sport, has become a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage that the world should collectively inherit. Through this project, we will firmly lay the foundation for the revival of Ssireum and create enjoyable Ssireum content for both participants and spectators.”

Mayor Kim Jangho said, “Ssireum, historically and traditionally popular among the public, is expected to experience a second revival through this project and expand globally. The city plans to prepare this project thoroughly and provide generous support for the revitalization of Ssireum.”

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