Reviving Ssireum: Korea's Traditional Wrestling Battles for Global Recognition

Despite being inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, Korea's traditional wrestling, ssireum, struggles to achieve the same recognition and commercial success as Japan's sumo. Once popular in the 1980s and 1990s, the sport now faces challenges due to budget cuts and shifting public interests.

As South Korea enjoys a surge in global cultural influence through music, film, and television, its traditional wrestling style, ssireum, struggles to capture attention. Once at its peak in the 1980s and 1990s with popular household names, ssireum faces dwindling numbers due to budget constraints and rapidly changing public interests.

Twenty-year-old wrestler, Lee Eun-soo, who began training at the age of nine, reflects on the current state of the sport. He notes that his former high school's ssireum team is on the verge of disbandment due to lack of interest. Despite ssireum being recognized by UNESCO in 2018, the sport hasn't achieved the commercial success of its Japanese counterpart, sumo.

Lee Tae-hyun, a former wrestler and Professor at Yong In University, believes in ssireum's potential given proper support. Though spectators like Lee Hye-soo still appreciate the traditional sport, widespread Korean familiarity has waned over the years, and many hope ssireum will gain renewed popularity.

(With inputs from agencies.)