Ssireum has existed as a form of martial arts, festival events, and professional sports.

sireum,” a Korean traditional form of wrestling, is a match in which two athletes, holding onto a “satbba (a sash cloth tied around the waist),” combine both strength and technique to try to force an opponent to the ground.

Scholars date the art back about 2,000 years to the ancient Korean warrior kingdom of Goguryeo. Fending off the Chinese, the Manchu, and various nomadic tribes surrounding the kingdom, the Goguryeo state valued highly the martial spirit, including the hand to hand fighting power that the original Ssireum entailed. In that era of shortdistance weapons such as swords and spears, the front ranks of two clashing armies often devolved into such combat, so the speed and strength of the original forms of Ssireum made it much more of a fighting art than purely sport.

In the earliest Ssireum, a form of wrestling was devised where opponents simply grasped any part of an opponent’s clothing and soft to move him off balance. Throwing an opponent onto his back (where he was most vulnerable) was the ideal move; in an actual combat situation this could followed up by deadly blows or by killing thrusts from an edged weapon of any sort.

Ssireum is thus clearly different from China’s “Yudao” or Japan’s “Judo” wrestling martial arts, since those focused on grasping an opponent’s sleeve and throwing him after pulling or pushing him off balance.

Ssireum’s status as both marital art and sport continued into the Goryeo Dynasty (918~1392). The sport was often a part of royal ceremonies, where Korean kings viewed the fighting valor of their warriors. It was during the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910), however, that Ssireum reached an apogee.

However, by Joseon Ssireum was also losing its viability as a martial art, and began evolving more into a sport.

This was because the evolution of war (in particular the mounted cavalry with weapons such as pikes and shields) was making traditional forms of unarmed combat obsolete. Though never mass produced, a nominal amount of firearms also made its way into the armed forces of Joseon, and these permanently ended the central importance of hand to hand fighting among soldiers.

However, Ssireum continued be a folk art and sport.

Ssireum continued its popularity as a staple of village life. The important annual festivals of Dano (Spring Festival) and Chuseok (Harvest / Thanksgiving Day) provided an exciting venue for Ssireum. Town folk gathered to compete in Ssireum matches as a way of a sharing their joy and releasing tension after the strenuous farm work that lasted from spring until fall.

The atmosphere became festive with the beginning of Ssireum matches.

Upon demonstration of fine Ssireum technique or announcement of a winner, the people would raise a shout of joy and “Nongak Nori (farmer’s music and dance)” was performed.

The champion of these contests was awarded an ox; the animal was not only a fine beast of burden but a Korean symbol of strength and power.

Ssireum is performed on a “Ssireum-pan,” which refers to the ground where Ssireum matches are held. The Ssireum-pan is usually a soft or sandy area, the better to cushion the athletes when they are thrown to the ground. With the rise of Ssireum as a modern sport the Ssireum-pan is now prepared according to specific rules to ensure athlete safety and also to enhance enjoyment of the sport by spectators.

In Korea today, Ssireum has become a commercial sport, with broadcast television matches, Internet sites, and marketing campaigns. The sport became one of main events broadcasted nationwide especially in major holidays such as Chuseok and Seol(New Year’s Day.) This has been a mixed blessing for the sport, actually. Some Ssireum players have rocketed to celebrity status in film or TV. But many historians and sports analysts lament that the sport has lost much of the cultural orthodoxies (for example, some Ssireum players now sport dyed hair, and dress for matches in non-traditional outfits) that make it uniquely Korean. At the same time, the loss of these orthodoxies has put professional Ssireum at risk financially as spectator revenues have dropped dramatically. This is contrast to Japan’s “Sumo” wrestling, where strict adherence to traditions in all aspects has ensured the international recognition of that sport and strong revenues. Thus, some have called for a total revamping and “reculturalization” of Ssireum, both to preserve its Korean roots and traditional nature, and to keep it financially viable.

Regardless, however, Ssireum continues to hold a special place in the hearts of all Koreans, and stands as a symbol of the strong spirit and strength of the hardy people on this peninsula. Both tourists and expatriates are strongly encouraged to see one or two matches while here in the Republic.



By C. S. Brantley
Business Korea Staff writer