(image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — The world’s only college department for the game of Go, known as “baduk” in South Korea, is about to disappear, sparking a protest from the Go community.
The Korea Baduk Association released a statement signed by 408 professional Go players, asking Myongji University to reconsider its plan to shut down the Go department.
In 1998, the university established the world’s first Go department, accepting 20 students. In 1999, the department accepted 30 students.
However, during the process of merging with Myongji College, the university made an internal decision to shut down the Go department due to the dwindling Go community and less than 10 percent of young students joining the department.
At the news of the department’s shutdown, the Korean Association of Professional Go Players, the Korea Baduk Federation and the Korea Women’s Baduk Federation as well as foreign communities expressed their concern to the university.
It is unlikely, however, that Myongji University will retract its decision to shut down the department.
“Once the Ministry of Education makes the final approval, the merger plan will proceed accordingly,” an official at the university said. “The merger is expected to take place around 2025.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
