Do You Know ‘Jang Han-bin’?… Jokgu Story of Park Sam-cheol, President of Busan Jokgu Association

National Sports Festival 'Demonstration Sport' Soon to Become Official

“Plan to Make Busan the World Mecca of Jokgu”

Do you know Jang Han-bin?

His name is Sigumseok, who holds the record for surpassing 4 million views on YouTube. Whether someone enjoys this sport or not is the dividing line. Adding the names Im Sang-wook and Kim Areum is proof that one is either a serious enthusiast or a ‘Busan’ fan. This is a story about ‘Jokgu,’ a sport where four people form a team and engage in a battle with a ball.

‘Jokgu,’ which was included as a demonstration sport in last year’s National Sports Festival, is gaining popularity among recreational sports enthusiasts. ‘Military Jokgu’ is already well-known(?), and ‘Sanseong Jokgu,’ where players compete spiritedly over a glass of Makgeolli, is a popular sport among older men that you wouldn’t want to take away from them.

This sport, which only requires a 100-pyeong open space with posts, a net, and a ball, can be enjoyed by people of all ages and genders. It is expanding rapidly not only as a recreational sport but also as an elite sport.

“My goal is to make Busan the mecca of Jokgu!”

Park Sam-cheol, who was inaugurated last month as the president of the Busan Jokgu Association, immediately raised the banner of making Busan the ‘holy land’ of Jokgu.

Park Sam-cheol, President of the Busan Jokgu Association.

He emphasized making Busan the ‘number one’ Jokgu city in all fields, including the ‘championship division’ players participating in the National Sports Festival, academy sports for young talents, and recreational sports enjoyed by seniors and male and female enthusiasts.

President Park’s goal extends globally. Since Korea is the birthplace of Jokgu, if Busan becomes the ‘Jokgu city,’ it will become the world’s mecca.

The nation’s first corporate team was also born in Busan in 2015. Its name is ‘Il-deung-ga’ (Number One). The aforementioned Jang Han-bin, Im Sang-wook, and Kim Areum belong to this team and work at affiliated companies such as Il-deung Group’s Il-deung Korea Co., Ltd., balancing work and sports.

“Back in the 60s to 80s during military Jokgu days, it wasn’t a foul even if the ball hit your stomach or shoulder, as long as you didn’t use your hands. But the Air Force introduced gentlemanly Jokgu, using only feet and head, which evolved into the current Jokgu rules. (laughs)”

President Park emphasized that Korea is indeed the birthplace of Jokgu. Currently, Jokgu adopts the Air Force style rules. Although similar sports exist in some European countries like foot tennis, footnet in the Czech Republic, and sepak takraw in Southeast Asia, their characteristics are all different.

Tracing its origins deepens the history of Jokgu. Records indicate that during the Three Kingdoms or Silla periods, straw and livestock organs were used as balls, and players scored points by hitting the ball over a wall built in the middle into a goal. There is also a theory that Silla’s Hwarang warriors played this game to train their physical strength and martial arts.

Park, in his 60s, is a businessman running a construction fire safety equipment company. He has enjoyed Jokgu for over 40 years, managing several recreational clubs, and recently became the head of the Busan Jokgu Association.

Park said, “During my four-year term as president, I will greatly expand the Jokgu base by promoting participation and activation among women, academies (schools), people with disabilities, middle-aged, and silver retirees.” Since all ages and genders are included in the base expansion group he mentioned, Jokgu can be called a ‘national sport of Korea.’

President Park is currently working tirelessly to have Jokgu officially recognized as a regular sport in the National Sports Festival, where it is now a demonstration sport. He has been busy scouting players among enthusiasts to form a Busan representative women’s team for the festival.

Busan City Jokgu Association Homepage.

Various domestic and international tournaments organized by the Korea Jokgu Association also play a major role in leading the Jokgu discipline. Just as outstanding sports stars emerge and attract the attention of enthusiasts, activating recreational sports, Jokgu stars with titles like ‘championship division’ and ‘National Sports Festival division’ are appearing, competing and replacing generations.

The ‘promotion and relegation league’ planned by the association to activate Jokgu at different levels, the ‘Il-deung-ga Hanwoo Banquet Cup Jokgu Korean League’ sponsored by companies providing prize money and tournament costs, and the first-ever Jokgu World Championship started this year are pioneering new horizons for the birthplace of Jokgu.

Ha Jong-jin, executive director of the Busan Jokgu Association, said, “There are already 2,726 clubs registered with the Korea Jokgu Association nationwide, and the number of Jokgu players, including enthusiasts and coaches, reaches about 63,000. Including beginners and ‘joyful Jokgu’ participants, the potential of Jokgu is enormous.”

In Busan, there are 96 registered clubs and 2,554 enthusiasts, but including unregistered clubs, Ha revealed that more than 300 clubs with over 10,000 Jokgu players enjoy the sport.

The female Jokgu population is gradually increasing, and players in their 70s and 80s are commonly seen at Jokgu courts. One club in Yeonje-gu, Busan, even has members in their mid-80s. The ‘Yeonmi’ and Buk-gu ‘Mujigae’ clubs have several members over 70 years old.

Park Sam-cheol said, “Many elderly Jokgu players come out to the courts regularly to maintain their health and avoid hospital visits,” adding, “Compared to other sports, it doesn’t require much cost and offers great excitement.”

Although calling it a national sport might be a bit premature, there is no disagreement in calling Jokgu a K-sport. The Korea Jokgu Association is also heading worldwide to promote this K-sport. They send promotional teams and representative players to Southeast Asia, Europe, and other regions to carry out a Jokgu ‘export’ project, and they capture the public’s attention through popular TV entertainment programs. YouTube also showcases Jokgu matches, tutorials, experimental and entertainment program videos with view counts beyond imagination.

Just as England is the birthplace of soccer, there is no reason why Korea cannot be recognized as the birthplace of Jokgu and host a World Cup watched by the entire world. This is the common story shared by President Park and Jokgu enthusiasts.

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