The Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN) has recently announced its initiative to promote Taekwondo across Nigeria.
This initiative will involve partnerships with various Taekwondo institutions throughout the country, aiming to elevate the sport and showcase its potential to bring international recognition and success to Nigeria.
The announcement was made by Culture and Events Officer Yunijin Lee during a Ssireum contest, a traditional Korean wrestling competition hosted by the centre, which featured 40 participants.
Yunijin emphasised that the event was designed as a closed competition, ensuring that participants could engage without the risk of injury.
“Today, we celebrate Ssireum, a traditional Korean sport that bears some resemblance to Japanese Sumo. This event is particularly significant as it coincides with Thanksgiving Day in Korea. All 40 participants 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.
The Head Coach of KCCN, Gbolohan Ogunmuyiwa, highlighted 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 the sport 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 create a vibrant environment for sports, showcasing how we can innovate and develop.”
Former Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Sunday Adeleye, expressed his support for this initiative, noting that Ssireum combines elements from various sports while ensuring safety 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 strengthen cultural ties between Korea and Nigeria while emphasising the importance of sports in fostering community bonds and promoting cultural exchange.
