Korea Chess Association (KCA) Managing Officer Song Jinwoo attended the Asian Youth Chess Championships 2018 in Chiangmai as Head of Delegation and shared insights into the growth of chess in Korea. Here are ten facts about the state of chess in the country.
- The Korea Chess Association (KCA) became a FIDE member in 2006, marking the country's formal entry into the international chess community.
- As of 2018, approximately 1,000 players in Korea held a FIDE ID, with around 400 of them actively competing.
- The KCA expected to reach 1,000 FIDE-rated players by 2020, reflecting steady growth in the domestic player base.
- Korea hosted its first major international chess events in 2015 and 2016, helping raise the profile of the game locally.
- Chess in Korea remains a niche but growing sport, with most activity concentrated around school and university clubs.
- The KCA has been working to introduce chess into more schools as part of after-school programmes.
- Korean players have been increasingly participating in Asian and world youth events, gaining valuable international experience.
- The association places strong emphasis on training coaches and arbiters to support grassroots development.
- Online chess platforms have played a significant role in connecting Korean players with the global chess community.
- Song Jinwoo expressed optimism that continued investment in youth chess would yield stronger results in future Asian championships.