Soojung Lee

Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies

Class of 2016

Preface

The origin of Baduk goes back to approximately 5000 years, although no records exist that specifically state

who first created the game at which period. Presumed that Baduk was already played by the royal family during

the Liao and Shun Dynasties of China, it is estimated to have been conveyed to the Korean peninsula around the

5th

century. In September 1955, the Korea Baduk Association was established, marking the beginning of full-

scale dissemination of Baduk. Today, Baduk continues to be widely enjoyed, centered on three countries—

China, Korea and Japan. However, its merits are not limited to being recognized in the Eastern hemisphere and

has stepped up as a game played by players all around the world.

When I was a young child, family gatherings always filled me with curiosity and wonder. Most of the times,

after dinner, my father and uncles would get together and take turns placing black and white stones on a wooden

board, creating mysterious shapes. Later did I find out that what I had frequently seen was the game of Baduk.

After some time, when I was 7 years old, my father suggested that I also learn the game. It was agreed upon

my family members that there is possibly no other hobby or talent better than Baduk, and so I started just

because I wanted to do something my father and two brothers were such skilled at. From the first stages of my

learning, however, I was drawn into the game. Unlike most children of my age, I would stay at the institute for

hours, reading textbooks and playing against other students. It definitely was uncommon for a girl to continue

learning it with so much passion, and as years passed, I was able to take private lessons from my coach. From

then on my skills improved drastically.

My official career in competitions having begun in 2005 (when I was a 2nd

grader), in 2006, I became the

champion of the female youth division in the Busan regional competition. In 2010, I gained the level of

Amateur-1-Dan (“Dan” referring to a nomination only given to expert-level players).

After being accepted to and enrolling at one of the most prestigious high schools in Korea, my life was

completely centered on academics; yet, I did not let go of Baduk no matter what. As a result of my constant and

tenacious practice, as a 10th

grader, I became the youngest member of the Korean national team and represented

South Korea in the 2013 European Go Congress. The following year, I participated in the 2014 World Youth

Baduk Competition and placed 6th

in the high school division among professional students whose lives depend

on Baduk. Finally, in 2015, as a senior of high school, I became Amateur-4-Dan, stepping into the semi-

professional level and officially qualifying to become a Baduk instructor.

This book is a compilation of the resources I used to teach the under-privileged children at the Haeoreum

Local Children’s Welfare Center. Having started community service at the center as a 9th

grader, I remember

being distinctly lost at first because at first, the young boys were uninterested in listening to my lectures and

staying at one seat for a long time. Some of them even threw tantrums, no longer able to withstand the intense

concentration. It took me several consulting sessions with my coach and long periods of reconsideration on how

to approach them with Baduk effectively. Out of many attempts, the one that worked was using simple drawings

to explain the basic Baduk concepts. Preparing these before every session, I was able to draw the children’s

attention to ignite their interests toward Baduk. Looking back at the almost 4 years I spent with them, I am

grateful for this wonderful collection my short drawing skills have produced, and I am even more grateful for

the mature person they have helped me grow into.

I dedicate this to my parents who have provided me with the best possible support throughout my whole life,

my Baduk coach who has led me through my journey of Baduk to grow into a skillful national player, and

finally, the children at the Haeoreum Local Children’s Welfare Center.

2015 December,

Soojung Lee

*This was printed in the form of a book, so I took photos of pages 5 to 59

and tried to fit each photo into the frame of an A4-size-document.

In order to provide more convenience in reading/ seeing, I remade the

front cover, preface and table of contents page using Microsoft Word.

Please understand the slight blurriness and the marginal gaps in the

following pages.

Thank you.

- As an official member of the Korea Baduk Association, I would like to send my deepest

support to Sedol Lee, a Korean 9-Dan professional, for his match against Alpha Go on March

8th

, 2016. I believe it is one of the most significant developments of humanity that an AI has

finally been developed enough to compete the top Baduk players of the world. Until now,

countless computer programs have beat players in chess, but none has been so advanced as to

challenge professional Baduk players, due to the infinite, incalculable and unpredictable

possibilities that can occur on the board.

The upcoming match will be one of the greatest moments of Baduk history, and will also be

the epitome of the battle between humans and artificial intelligence.

1. What is Baduk?

2. How is a Game of Baduk Played?

3. Necessary Manners for Playing Baduk

4. How to Grip a Stone Properly

5. Positioning the Stones

6. Try it out on the Board

7. Connection and Separation

8. The Survival and Death of Stones

9. Repetitive Capture

10. The Capturing Race

11. How do Stones Advance?

12. Illegal Points

13. Where Should Stones be Placed First?

14. Territories

15. Completing a Game of Baduk

16. Calculate the Territories

17. Try it on the Board