North Korea

[lleig]

In this forum, when speaking about baduk in Korea, we (Westerners) mean South Korea.
When speaking about Korean pros we mean South Korean pros.

So ,,, what's the situation of baduk in North Korea?

I already know that it's a poor country and that its dictator is more interested in feeding missiles rather than people, but I guess that, if baduk is part of their culture, somebody there must be still playing.

For example, Europe has a long story of inner wars in the last 1,000 years and chess has been played elsewhere under every kind of political system.

[kivi]

North Koreans, every now and then, participate to amateur world championships. 27th WAGC in Sasebo/Nagasaki, this 7d was there (found the name: Tae Won Jo), and he is just a normal person. See the pic at the bottom: http://www.gogod.co.uk/NewInGo/WAGC_5a.htm
I think this was his second WAGC.

I heard (rumours) later years Japanese WAGC organizers had to exclude DPRK due to pressure from the Japanese government. In last few years WAGC was twice in China, and then there was a North Korean participant. I don't know about this year.

I don't think they have pro strength players. They could be producing some in disguise inside China though.

[EdLee]

I don't think they have pro strength players.

I have heard otherwise: they have kyu-rated players who can beat pros.

[HermanHiddema]

Here's a list of North Korean players that have played in one or more international events: http://www.europeangodatabase.eu/EGD/Fi ... ry_code=KP if you click through you can see their game results.

They do well in amateur events, but have not won any.

At the World Mind Sports Games in 2008 in Beijing, their men's team reached the last eight, where they lost 5-0 in the quarter final to a team of Japanese professionals (including one forfeit because they only fielded four players). During the qualifying they also lost to Germany 2-3, losing games to European amateur 6d players Benjamin Teuber and Christof Gerlach (plus the one forfeit for only fielding four)

As to EdLee's remark, that would only be true under the traditional Korean system where 1 kyu (gup) is the strongest rank immediately after 1 dan pro (i.e. there are no amateur dan ranks). Under that system, it is not surprising if the strongest ranks immediately below pro can occasionally win against weaker professionals. In international events, however, North Korea generally fields 6d or 7d players, so in that context they have clearly adopted the international system.

[emeraldemon]

At the last WAGC North Korea placed 5th, above Japan:

http://ranka.intergofed.org/?page_id=7477

[HermanHiddema]

At the last WAGC North Korea placed 5th, above Japan:

http://ranka.intergofed.org/?page_id=7477

In the past, they have reached 2nd place twice and 3rd place thrice, and they have placed in the top 5 every year (if they participated) since 1997: http://kamyszyn.go.art.pl/worldchamps (alphabetically under DPR Korea).