The Amateur's Unyielding Spirit
Go viewers are divided into three major categories.
Age groups, how they approach the game of Go, and their attitude.
Depending on these criteria, the broadcasts they prefer also diverge sharply.
Jang Yu-na 2-dan’s broadcast.
Average viewers: 3,500.
While watching the live broadcast of the Ciel Bank Cup draw ceremony, Jang Yu-na 2-dan said with a slightly flushed expression.
“Again, again—our Inha-shin got targeted! Everyone, is this right? Actually, Inha-shin didn’t do anything wrong.”
Her voice carried a mix of injustice.
The viewers were already in full battle mode.
Jang Yu-na quickly scanned the chat.
The enthusiasm was scorching, and the vast majority were passionate fans of Inha-shin.
“I have to choose.”
Recently, the number of Chinese viewers had been steadily declining.
After Inha-shin’s identity as an amateur was revealed, anti-Chinese sentiment inside China had grown fierce.
Meanwhile, the number of domestic viewers in their twenties and thirties had been rising steadily.
The decision was simple.
“Even if we lose, we have to cheer for Inha-shin until the end! We’re being squeezed from both China and Korea… I’m so angry I can’t stand it! Please gather without missing anyone tomorrow. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Jang Yu-na gritted her teeth and issued a warning.
Declaration of biased broadcasting.
Inha-shin coin riding.
Having read the atmosphere, she declared.
Park Ji-man’s Baduk in.
370,000 subscribers.
Average viewers: 8,000.
Last year’s Ciel Bank Cup final peak viewers: 100,000.
Park Ji-man, who had once been a commentator and later served as a national team coach.
His broadcast felt closer to life than mere commentary.
“Eh? What’s this? Si-hu and Lu Quanyi are facing off in the quarterfinals? Ah, draw luck isn’t easy. Still, Si-hu will win. His momentum is good lately. It’s flawless Go.”
With deep connections in the Go world, Park Ji-man continued the broadcast, calling players by affectionate names.
Then a scene involving Kim In-ha appeared.
“These days young pros are quite honest in self-expression… Seo-jun-ah, no matter how much, isn’t targeting a bit too much? He’s an amateur.”
Soon after, the draw scene featuring Kim In-ha came up.
“What? Of all things, In-ha and Seo-jun players are paired from the very first game? It’s a shame. I would have cheered for In-ha if it had been against Liu Cheng.”
Though the words were said that way, no special emotion colored the voice.
Amateurs were simply amateurs.
An amateur who had never entered the pro league and gained no experience was not on a stage they could challenge.
“Correct. We just need to bring back the title that was taken by China. Si-hu, you can do it, right? I believe in you alone.”
His tone was gentle, but the message was clear.
Korean support.
Chinese restraint.
His broadcast never strayed from these two principles.
And the viewers felt the same way.
Traditional and dignified Baduk TV.
A Go-special channel operated by the Korea Baduk Association, continuing unbroken from the cable TV era.
YouTube average viewers: 5,000.
High proportion of viewers in their sixties, so the chat was sparse.
“Professionals and amateurs are completely different worlds. Unbeaten, until the end?”
Song Tae-gyu 9-dan said quietly, lowering his voice.
Low tone, short sentences.
Each word carried weight.
“Even if it’s the past Oh Soo senior or Jeong Si-hu 9-dan, I can’t say it’s arrogant for an amateur who hasn’t even entered the pro league to speak.”
A young friend who didn’t know the subject.
An amateur who hadn’t crossed the pro wall.
An impolite participant who didn’t know the etiquette of the Go world.
That was the common thought of the viewers.
“It’s the spirit of youth, of course—but only if they can prove results equal to it.”
Song Tae-gyu 9-dan packaged it appropriately.
However, there was no further mention.
No, exactly—no interest at all.
A brief issue.
Most of them had already erased the name “Kim In-ha” from their minds.
* * *
“Hurry up. Why are you so slow?”
Team Leader Jeong Soo-yeon pressed impatiently.
The deputy Ahn Ho-jun, gripping the steering wheel, protested with an aggrieved tone.
“You can’t speed if you violate the limit!”
“Who said I violated the law? Go fast within the boundaries of the law.”
“I’m not a taxi or anything…”
Under her fierce gaze, Ahn Ho-jun closed his mouth tightly and stepped on the accelerator.
Team Leader Jeong Soo-yeon held a tablet in the passenger seat and replayed Kim In-ha’s interview video on loop.
“It’s beyond expectations.”
Kim In-ha.
He truly brought a storm of buzz.
In a situation where most semifinal qualifiers were top-tier or elite pros, despite being intimidated by their public targeting, he responded with calm composure.
His boldness was impressive for a newcomer.
Ding.
A vibration rang out.
She answered the phone.
“Yes, yes. Edit mainly around the check points. As fast as possible. Upload the video by today and turn the articles. Please hurry.”
Team Leader Jeong Soo-yeon was in a rush with every second.
“It’s a battle with time.”
The tournament started tomorrow.
Before that, I had to definitely raise the stakes.
I had to imprint the name “Kim In-ha” on the public who knew nothing about Go.
“Team leader, we’re here.”
“Park it in front of me.”
She tucked the tablet into her bag and got out at the roadside.
Korea Baduk Association.
Team Leader Jeong Soo-yeon rushed up to the third-floor office without catching her breath.
“You’re here? Please sit over there.”
Guided, she entered.
Three people were seated there.
Ciel Bank Cup overall supervisor Heo Gyu 9-dan.
Baduk TV commentator Song Tae-gyu 9-dan.
Korea Baduk Association Secretary General Lee Sang-woo.
She greeted them politely.
“Hello. This is Jeong Soo-yeon, the Ciel Bank Marketing Team Leader who contacted you.”
“We’ve been waiting. Please sit.”
When Team Leader Jeong Soo-yeon sat down, Secretary General Lee Sang-woo spoke.
“Team leader, besides the two matches scheduled for broadcast tomorrow… is the request to live broadcast the match between Kim In-ha and Kang Seo-jun?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Heh heh. If we simultaneously broadcast three matches, it will be quite complicated. What do you think, Tae-gyu?”
Song Tae-gyu 9-dan slowly shook his head.
“I am against it. If we handle all three games, neither side will be able to give proper commentary.”
He took off his glasses and wiped them with a handkerchief, then continued.
“And you mentioned the buzz factor. Well, honestly, I wonder if the player Kim In-ha is really a person worth that much attention.”
Team Leader Jeong Soo-yeon was about to counter immediately but held back.
The organizer was Ciel Bank, but the governing body was the Korea Baduk Association.
She was in a position of requesting.
“I have similar thoughts.”
Secretary General Lee Sang-woo accepted the words.
“Kang Seo-jun 9-dan is a player suitable for broadcasting, but the opponent is an amateur Kim In-ha. What about senior Heo?”
The gaze turned to Heo Gyu 9-dan.
He hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.
“I am in favor.”
A brief silence.
The unexpected answer made everyone fix their gaze.
“Being an amateur isn’t that important. With good luck, I couldn’t beat Byun Woo-bin in the preliminary round.”
“Well… but.”
“You saw it. That friend playing Go. I don’t know if I can say this, but… I saw the feeling of Oh Soo in him.”
“…What?”
“Did you just say Oh Soo?”
Suddenly, the atmosphere changed.
It was not someone else; it was because Oh Soo 9-dan was mentioned from Heo Gyu 9-dan’s mouth.
Oh Soo.
The only human to beat artificial intelligence.
A legend who won 71 titles in less than 10 years.
A flawless player whom Jeong Si-hu 9-dan avoided comparing.
Because he had been a member of the study group made by Heo Gyu 9-dan.
“Senior, no matter how much…”
Song Tae-gyu 9-dan trailed off.
The name was burdensome to simply counter.
“And you know? These days young people don’t play Go. There are many things to enjoy and play, so there’s a perception that Go is boring and difficult.”
Heo Gyu 9-dan continued with arms crossed.
“In such times, isn’t one friend like Kim In-ha okay? Even if it’s to break the perception that it’s a quiet and difficult sport.”
Team Leader Jeong Soo-yeon nodded quietly from the side.
It was also the words she wanted to say.
However, Song Tae-gyu 9-dan’s expression was hardened as if he completely disagreed.
“Hmm.”
Secretary General Lee Sang-woo clapped his fingers and pondered for a long time.
Then he raised his head.
“Good. Let’s do simultaneous broadcasting of three matches. Tae-gyu, please work hard.”
Song Tae-gyu 9-dan reluctantly nodded.
“…Understood.”
Team Leader Jeong Soo-yeon quietly exhaled.
As planned.
The best stage she desired.
It was just before all that was completed.
Now, what’s left is just one thing.
“…As long as In-ha wins.”
* * *
“…The hotel is really nice.”
A 5-star hotel provided by the host side.
I stayed in that premium room.
Standing by the window, the Seoul cityscape came into view beyond the front glass.
A feeling of having succeeded.
A feeling of having accomplished something.
Thanks to that, I could save the time and energy wasted on public transportation.
“If I win today, I must definitely bring Mom and Dad.”
Yesterday the room had been full, so I couldn’t make a reservation.
Evening course dinner.
Quiet and emotional comfort.
I wanted to let the two of them enjoy this luxury too.
Even for that.
“I have to win.”
In one corner of the room, a Go board was placed.
The game record of Kang Seo-jun sent by Senior Park.
The front printed it and brought it up.
Last night I had reviewed that game record repeatedly.
His style, his flow, his moves.
Why this move came out.
Where it would be weak when receiving that move.
Analyzed, researched, imprinted in my mind.
Amid that, one text message received.
[Team Leader Jeong Soo-yeon: In-ha doesn’t seem to feel burdened much, so I’ll send the link.]
The first link was a video.
My appearance receiving public targeting at the draw and countering.
The second was a post on the country’s largest community site.
A post made with screenshots and gags cut from the previous video, posted twice a day.
It said the total views exceeded 500,000.
“…It became embarrassing.”
I laughed shortly.
It was surprising.
An amateur who only talked.
I knew better than anyone that I would turn into a useless human if I lost today.
But strangely, it didn’t feel that way.
Rather, I was focused.
More cleanly, more clearly.
“Let’s go.”
I took the elevator down to the lobby.
At the entrance where the event banner was set up, journalists and event staff were bustling around.
There were guide lines on the floor, and the passage to the venue was quietly controlled.
Passing them, I moved towards the main hall.
“You caused an accident yesterday, right?”
A familiar voice.
Reporter Koo, who was taking on-site photos, approached me.
Lowering the camera slightly, he continued.
“The draw video has already gone viral. In my lifetime, I won’t see a proper fight between dignified pro players.”
I smiled while meeting his eyes.
“You know, I’m a straightforward person.”
Reporter Koo also chuckled.
“That’s right. It seems the problem is that I’m too straightforward. So, how’s your condition?”
I looked up at the ceiling of the lobby once.
After taking a deep breath, I said quietly.
“I don’t think I can make excuses. I’m too good.”
“…That’s good. I look forward to it today, In-ha.”
Reporter Koo pressed the shutter and took a photo of my appearance, then stepped back.
As I entered the venue, Team Leader Jeong Soo-yeon and the filming team were waiting for me in advance.
Dressed in a neat suit as usual.
Her face with a slight smile was softer than usual.
“Hello.”
“You know, In-ha? The match being broadcast today.”
I nodded.
Behind her, on the stage platform, three Go boards were lined up.
Of the total 8 matches to be held today.
Only the 3 matches selected by the organizer would be live broadcast.
The seats where most of the winning candidates, classified as pro players, would sit.
And.
Kim In-ha.
In one of those seats, a nameplate with my name was placed.
The stage she created.
I looked at Team Leader Jeong Soo-yeon and smiled briefly.
“Yes. I know I can’t lose.”
Instead of answering, she responded with a short eye contact.
That was enough.
Now, it’s my turn to prove it.