Organized independent league, accelerating the popularity of baduk to increase the ranks of professional baduk players. 

LS Future Center Chairman John Koo, “The Baduk Championship is our promise to share our heart with the people of Vietnam.”

On the 29th, LS Group announced that the company had sponsored the ‘3rd LS–Vietnam Baduk Championship 2013’ held in Hanoi from the 25th to the 28th of this month. The sponsorship began in 2011 with the goal to support cultural exchange between Korea and Vietnam and also to spread the popularity of baduk throughout Vietnam where interest in the classical game is increasing.

“LS is contributing to Vietnam’s industrial development by operating local factories in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Haiphong,” said LS Future Center Chairman John Koo in his congratulatory speech. Chairman Koo emphasized, “LS is striving to be a genuine partner for the people of Vietnam. The Baduk Championship is LS’ promise for them.”

Around 90 players representing eight cities across the nation competed for four days in the tournament, which was divided into adult men and women’s divisions, a junior division for players under the age of 16, and even a kids division for children under the age of 11. According to LS Group observers, the skill level of the players has definitely improved from previous years. Lee Gang-wuk, a professional Level 8 Baduk player visiting Vietnam to promote the game said, “Baduk is becoming more and more popular now as the ‘2013 W-Baduk Cup Vietnamese League’ was held with joint sponsorship from Cyberoro (www.cyberoro.com), a popular baduk website, the Korean Baduk Association, and baduk cafes opened in the Hanoi area.” He explained the popularity of baduk in Vietnam, “Since the LS–Vietnam Baduk Championship, the number of persons applying to become professional has been increasing. There is even talk of joining the Southeast Asian league that consists of three countries, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, who have teams that compete on a regular basis.”

Having entered the Vietnamese market in 1996, LS Cable & System has grown to employ about 600 workers at its local facilities and is recording $350 million (approx. KRW 390 billion) a year in sales, thus contributing to economic development in Vietnam. At the same time, the LS Group is serving as a mainstay for unofficial cultural exchange between the countries by sending volunteer service teams consisting of Korean university students to Vietnam each year.

Photo Caption:
1. On the 29th, LS Group announced that the company had sponsored the ‘3rd LS–Vietnam Baduk Championship 2013’ in Hanoi to foster cultural exchange and promote baduk throughout Vietnam. LS Future Center Chairman John Koo (left) is watching a game.
2. On the 29th, LS Group announced that the company had sponsored the ‘3rd LS–Vietnam Baduk Championship 2013’ in Hanoi to foster cultural exchange and promote baduk throughout Vietnam. LS Future Center Chairman John Koo (second from left) is posing for photos with the Championship winners.