🇰🇷 Korean Lesson #14: [GAME] Let's play Go 🤓

[GAME] Let's play Go 🤓 

안녕하세요 여러분 👋

We launched our Kakao group chat - so happy to see you there!! 🎉
Join us and improve your Korean 🇰🇷 

I recently had the opportunity to play Go, one of Korea's traditional games locally known as 바둑 (Baduk) - and that’s why today’s newsletter will be dedicated to this game! 😍 

Contrary to the stereotype that Go is only for the elderly, many young people play this game to enhance their analytical, strategy, and memory skills.
I had the opportunity to meet with professional Go players, you can read their interviews below.

Go, known as 바둑 (Baduk) in Korea, is an ancient board game believed to have originated in China over 4,000 years ago. It is one of the oldest continuously played board games in the world. The game spread to Korea and Japan around the 5th century and has since become integral to East Asian culture.

In Korea, Go was traditionally a game enjoyed by scholars and nobility, symbolizing a refined and strategic mind. The game’s complexity and the depth of its strategy have made it a respected intellectual pursuit.

During the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897), Go gained official recognition, and the government established schools to teach the game to young scholars.

In modern times, Korea has become one of the leading nations in the world of Go. The country has produced numerous professional players who have achieved international acclaim.

Today, Baduk is played by people of all ages, and it remains a beloved pastime that continues to be passed down through generations, symbolizing the blend of tradition and intellect.

I had the chance to talk with two Korean professional players, whose English names are Emma & Ben.

📝 바둑을 언제부터 시작하셨나요? Since when have you been playing Go?

👩‍💼 Emma: 저는 7살에 바둑을 시작했어요. 바둑이 기억력에 도움이 된다고 해서 아빠가 이 게임을 배우게 했어요. 저명한 선생님에게 엄격하게 교육을 받았고 실력을 인정받아 프로가 되었어요

I've been playing Go since I was 7 years old. My father encouraged me to learn this game because it's great for memory. I received rigorous training from a renowned teacher and achieved a high level, eventually becoming a professional.

👨‍💼 Ben: 저는 8살에 바둑을 시작했어요. 아빠가 바둑을 배우라고 해서 방과후에 학원을 다녔어요. 수학을 잘 못했지만 바둑은 재미있었고 또한 바둑고 꽤 잘 두었어요.

I also started when I was 8 years old. My dad suggested I learn to Go, so I attended an academy after school. I found it enjoyable, and despite not being good at math, I excelled at Go.

💌 Feel free to share the subject you'd like to work on by replying to this email. Your input is valuable to us! 💌