By Honorary Reporter Foteini Chatzoudi from Greece
Photos = Kim Yoon-young

Baduk, also known as Go, is an East Asian strategic board game played with black and white stones. This is considered the oldest board game still played, requiring strategic thinking, pattern recognition and long-term planning.

Inspired by the recent movie "The Match," I interviewed Kim Yoon-young, a professional baduk player who teaches the game in Montreal, Canada.

Kim's journey with the game began at age 6 during baduk's peak popularity in Korea. She went pro in 2007 at age 18 and after a decade of competition, she opted to teach baduk abroad by moving to Montreal in 2017. Though she briefly returned to Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic and welcomed her first child, she returned to Montreal in summer last year to focus on teaching.

In 2010, Kim won a gold medal at the Asian Games and four years later, she advanced to the top 32 of the Samsung Fire Cup; she also claimed victory in 2017 at the Huang Longshi Cup of China. As of 2023, Kim ranked sixth among Korean women in the game.

The following are excerpts from an email interview with her from March 28-31.

Kim Yoon-young (second from right) poses for a group photo with her students during a baduk class in Montreal

What inspired you to teach the game internationally and move to Canada?

After I turned pro, I started thinking that instead of only focusing on winning games, I wanted to share the beauty of baduk with people around the world. In my early 20s, I began teaching at international baduk events in Thailand, Europe and North America. Eventually, I settled in Canada after marrying my Canadian husband in 2019.  

What makes someone successful in baduk?

It's important to understand which of your stones are strong or weak and to use them efficiently. The game's depth comes from the countless number of possible moves, making each game unique and consistently challenging.

People of all ages in Quebec play baduk.

What do you consider your best achievement as a pro?

One of my most unforgettable games was the women's team final at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. Despite being underdogs against China, our team secured a 2-1 victory and won the gold medal.

How is the baduk community developing in Canada?

The Canadian baduk community includes about 1,000 registered members in the national Go association, with an estimated 2,000-3,000 active players nationwide. Many come from science and engineering backgrounds who often discover baduk after playing chess.

What are your goals for promoting the game?

While balancing family life with two young children, I'm focusing on running an annual summer camp near Montreal at Orford National Park and staying active in the Montreal Go Club. Once my children are older, I plan to expand my teaching activities across North America.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.