K-Pop

Kim Won-jin vs Hwang Chan-seob, The 15th Annual National Trade Ssireum Competition, 8 August 2018 (Korea Ssireum Association)

Kim Won-jin, in blue, takes on Hwang Chan-seob, in red, in the traditional Korean folk wrestling style called ssireum. Competitors wear belts or sashes (satba) and wrestle on sand, matches beginning with both men clutching each other's belt with their left hand while kneeling in a grappling position. Like Japanese sumo, a fall is won by forcing one's opponent to the ground at or above the knees. These two wrestlers compete in the Taebaek category, weighing less than 176 pounds. It's a two out of three match.

In response to the YouTube success of Kim vs Hwang, KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) is premiering a ssireum-centered reality TV show called I Am a Wrestler  this month.

Visit Korea Ssireum Association here.