Recently, it was decided to set up the paduk course at Taekwon-Do schools across the country.

In this regard, Ri Pong Il, deputy secretary general of the Korean Paduk Association, told KCNA:

The purpose of establishing the paduk course is to train many more professional paduk players who would contribute to further developing and disseminating paduk enjoyed by the Korean people from olden times.

The new course is to give lectures on basic subject and paduk theory and practice as the main. To this end, the Taekwon-Do schools are now concentrating efforts on the formation of teachers and the provision of favorable educational environment.

Meanwhile, a better-planned system will be established for the dissemination and technical development of paduk. Education in the rudimentary knowledge of paduk is to be given at kindergartens and primary schools across the country and player teams will be formed at the paduk centers.

Over the past years, paduk players of the DPRK have proved successful at many international games, including the open paduk individuals of the 1st World Intelligence Competition, the 26th World Amateur Paduk Championship, the 11th International Amateur Mixed Go Championship and the Shanglu Cup Hangzou International City Go Tournament held in 2013 and 2016.