The Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria(KCCN),recently announced the centre’s move to promote Taekwondo across Nigeria.
The initiative will involve partnerships with several taekwondo institutions throughout the country, with the goal of elevating the sport to new heights and showcasing its potential to bring international recognition and success to Nigeria.
This was disclosed by the Culture and Events Officer, Yunijin Lee, during a Ssireum contest,a traditional Korean Wrestling competition hosted by the centre, which featured 40 participants.
Yunijin stressed that the event is designed as a closed competition, ensuring participants can engage without the risk of injury.
“Today, we celebrate Ssireum, a traditional Korean sport that bears some resemblance to Japanese Sumo. This cultural event is particularly significant as it takes place during Thanksgiving Day in Korea. All 40 participants today will have at least one opportunity to compete. We have organised four sections two for females and two for males ultimately awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals to a total of 12 winners,” she explained.
Head Coach of KCCN, Gbolohan Ogunmuyiwa, emphasised the historical importance of Ssireum, which emerged after the Korean War alongside other martial arts such as Taekwondo. He noted that efforts have been made by the government to modernise and present it in a way that appeals to the international community.
“In conjunction with the competition, we will conduct referee training and clinics beforehand. This approach will foster a fresh environment for sports, showcasing how we can innovate and develop.”
Former technical director, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Sunday Adeleye, expressed his support for this initiative, noting that Ssireum combines elements from various sports while remaining safe for participants. He believes it should be readily embraced in Nigeria.
“We must actively engage with new sports opportunities rather than lagging behind. When new sports are introduced, we often see others take the lead, and we end up scrambling to catch up afterwards,” Adeleye stated
This initiative is expected to not only strengthen cultural ties between Korea and Nigeria but also emphasise the importance of sports in fostering community bonds and promoting cultural exchange.
