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omonatheydidLee-AlphaGo match puts go under spotlight
The historic five-game go match between Korean grandmaster Lee Se-dol and Google's AI program AlphaGo has placed the ancient board game under the spotlight.
The game of go, or "baduk" in Korean, had been one of the most popular games in East Asian countries, up until the 21st century when people started seeking entertainment in other mediums such as video games.
With the world's eyes focused on the match between the Google-developed computer program and the world's top go player, the popularity of the board game is showing signs of bouncing back.
Officials at the Korea Baduk Association (KBA) said they have been receiving an increasing number of inquiries recently from parents asking about how their children can become players or where to learn the game.
"It is possible that this phenomenon was caused by popular television dramas like Misaeng or Reply 1988 that feature the game," said a KBA official. "And we hope the match between Lee and AlphaGo will lead to an increased boom in go."
Go could regenerate public interest thanks to 2014 TV drama "Misaeng" that tells the story of a failed go player who tries to adjust to life as an office worker.
In addition, the recently ended smash-hit TV series "Reply 1988" also drew public attention to the game as it features popular actor Park Bo-gum as a star go player.
"Due to the dramas and the human versus computer match, we have seen more young students come to local go academies," the official said. "Frankly, we feel sorry for Lee's defeat, but we believe shedding more light on go in the media could certainly lead to a go boom here."
AI battle sparks Go wave in Korea
On Sunday, Korean Go champion Lee Se-dol achieved a historic first victory against Google’s artificial intelligence AlphaGo in the fourth of a five-game match.
At a children’s Go competition held by the Korea Baduk Association on Sunday, the number of new participants rose to 20 students in just one day. This is double the daily average. Around 300 students join the competition regularly every month, the association said.
The fad has also hit colleges as more individuals are expressing interest to join Go clubs.
“Compared to the past, a lot more students are asking through the school’s online community how they can join the Go club. I’m sure the number of applications is much larger this semester than before,” said Park Hyo-jeong, who heads the Go club at Ewha Womans University.
Go used to be a game for the elite in the past. It has been a common game for man in the street since the country’s liberation in 1945.
While the number of Koreans who played Go reached 10 million in the 1990s, this number has dwindled over the years, Go industry sources said.
According to a survey by Gallup Korea in 2013, only 25 percent of people here said they knew how to play Go and of this proportion, over half of their playing abilities were at the elementary level.
“Go has been a game for all people regardless of class. The game has soothed people’s sadness and relieved stress from a long time ago. Since the game requires much time and patience, creating a boom in the game is not as easy as other games,” said KBA official Chung Dong-hwan. “But I can see that the whole country is into Go now.”
Bookstores are benefitting from the growing interest in Go.
Kyobo Book, the largest bookstore chain in Korea, saw Go book sales rise by 7 percent compared to last year. Online bookstore Aladdin, has also seen a jump in Go books sales by 50 percent on-year. Of the top five Go books sold in the first week of this month, four were written by Go champion Lee Sedol.
For some retailers, Go products are also flying off the shelves.
Online shopping mall Gmarket said its sales of Go items surged fivefold in the past month. Another online shopping mall, Auction, also saw sales of such items jump by 40 percent.
Among these customers, there were over 80 percent more customers in their 20s compared to the previous year, according to Auction officials.
“Not only Koreans are interested in Go, but also people from other countries. I believe the current boom may serve as a turning point for the Korean Go industry, depending on how well (our association) manages the opportunity,” Chung added.
AlphaGo recognized as honorary top ranker
The artificial intelligence computer program (AI) AlphaGo, which defeated go grandmaster Lee Se-dol, has become an honorary ninth dan player.
The word "dan" is a go term equivalent to rank. The ninth dan is the highest recognition for go players, and none has received the honorary recognition from the association. Lee holds the ninth dan ranking as well.
"AlphaGo has clearly proved its excellence," an official from the association's public relations office said.
He said AlphaGo appears to have reached "the realm of God" by beating the go grandmaster.
"In the go community, we describe people in the ninth dan such as Lee that they have reached God's realm. I think I could say AlphaGo has reached that level, too, as it beat Lee."
The honorary certificate is also a token of appreciation to AlphaGo for raising awareness of the game in Korea.
Source: koreatimes (1) (3), Koreaherald
The historic five-game go match between Korean grandmaster Lee Se-dol and Google's AI program AlphaGo has placed the ancient board game under the spotlight.
The game of go, or "baduk" in Korean, had been one of the most popular games in East Asian countries, up until the 21st century when people started seeking entertainment in other mediums such as video games.
With the world's eyes focused on the match between the Google-developed computer program and the world's top go player, the popularity of the board game is showing signs of bouncing back.
Officials at the Korea Baduk Association (KBA) said they have been receiving an increasing number of inquiries recently from parents asking about how their children can become players or where to learn the game.
"It is possible that this phenomenon was caused by popular television dramas like Misaeng or Reply 1988 that feature the game," said a KBA official. "And we hope the match between Lee and AlphaGo will lead to an increased boom in go."
Go could regenerate public interest thanks to 2014 TV drama "Misaeng" that tells the story of a failed go player who tries to adjust to life as an office worker.
In addition, the recently ended smash-hit TV series "Reply 1988" also drew public attention to the game as it features popular actor Park Bo-gum as a star go player.
"Due to the dramas and the human versus computer match, we have seen more young students come to local go academies," the official said. "Frankly, we feel sorry for Lee's defeat, but we believe shedding more light on go in the media could certainly lead to a go boom here."
AI battle sparks Go wave in Korea
On Sunday, Korean Go champion Lee Se-dol achieved a historic first victory against Google’s artificial intelligence AlphaGo in the fourth of a five-game match.
At a children’s Go competition held by the Korea Baduk Association on Sunday, the number of new participants rose to 20 students in just one day. This is double the daily average. Around 300 students join the competition regularly every month, the association said.
The fad has also hit colleges as more individuals are expressing interest to join Go clubs.
“Compared to the past, a lot more students are asking through the school’s online community how they can join the Go club. I’m sure the number of applications is much larger this semester than before,” said Park Hyo-jeong, who heads the Go club at Ewha Womans University.
Go used to be a game for the elite in the past. It has been a common game for man in the street since the country’s liberation in 1945.
While the number of Koreans who played Go reached 10 million in the 1990s, this number has dwindled over the years, Go industry sources said.
According to a survey by Gallup Korea in 2013, only 25 percent of people here said they knew how to play Go and of this proportion, over half of their playing abilities were at the elementary level.
“Go has been a game for all people regardless of class. The game has soothed people’s sadness and relieved stress from a long time ago. Since the game requires much time and patience, creating a boom in the game is not as easy as other games,” said KBA official Chung Dong-hwan. “But I can see that the whole country is into Go now.”
Bookstores are benefitting from the growing interest in Go.
Kyobo Book, the largest bookstore chain in Korea, saw Go book sales rise by 7 percent compared to last year. Online bookstore Aladdin, has also seen a jump in Go books sales by 50 percent on-year. Of the top five Go books sold in the first week of this month, four were written by Go champion Lee Sedol.
For some retailers, Go products are also flying off the shelves.
Online shopping mall Gmarket said its sales of Go items surged fivefold in the past month. Another online shopping mall, Auction, also saw sales of such items jump by 40 percent.
Among these customers, there were over 80 percent more customers in their 20s compared to the previous year, according to Auction officials.
“Not only Koreans are interested in Go, but also people from other countries. I believe the current boom may serve as a turning point for the Korean Go industry, depending on how well (our association) manages the opportunity,” Chung added.
AlphaGo recognized as honorary top ranker
The artificial intelligence computer program (AI) AlphaGo, which defeated go grandmaster Lee Se-dol, has become an honorary ninth dan player.
The word "dan" is a go term equivalent to rank. The ninth dan is the highest recognition for go players, and none has received the honorary recognition from the association. Lee holds the ninth dan ranking as well.
"AlphaGo has clearly proved its excellence," an official from the association's public relations office said.
He said AlphaGo appears to have reached "the realm of God" by beating the go grandmaster.
"In the go community, we describe people in the ninth dan such as Lee that they have reached God's realm. I think I could say AlphaGo has reached that level, too, as it beat Lee."
The honorary certificate is also a token of appreciation to AlphaGo for raising awareness of the game in Korea.
Source: koreatimes (1) (3), Koreaherald
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Date: 2016-03-16 10:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-03-16 12:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-03-16 08:18 pm (UTC)I think HnG was quite popular in all three East Asian countries... I'm happy to see the marketing effect from these games too!
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Date: 2016-03-17 02:07 am (UTC)I just want to say this, did anyone here actually realize that Reply 1988 plot are actually based on this game? How the writer carefully write the plot based on how Baduk is played and only after the drama ended that many people realize it. I find it amazing tbh. My respect for the writer/director only increase after I finish the drama.
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Date: 2016-03-17 05:42 am (UTC)I didn't know that the entire reply 1988 plot is based on this game too. I just heard how one character is modeled after Lee Changho the greatest player of the previous generation. I'm kind of curious about this drama now... maybe I'll check it out sometime
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Date: 2016-03-18 02:06 am (UTC)No, its not like the plot is based on the game but rather how the plot is strategically paced based on how the games are played between the 2 of the main male leads -- defensive and attacking strategies. Fans didnt realize this but they only get it after the drama ended -- the writer was brilliant!
You should start the drama asap. Its the best drama of 2015 and my fave family oriented kdramas ever -- they cover lots of theme such as sacrifices, struggles, friendships and etc. Its absolutely amazing. I hope you wasn't spoiled on the ending since knowing the ending kinda kill the whole surprising and the wow factor of the drama.