Korean Go Association Abolishes Controversial Cumulative Foul Rule

During the LG Cup final, held from January 20 to 23, Ke Jie was first penalized for not placing his stones in the designated box, resulting in a loss in the second game. In the deciding third game, Ke Jie was again accused of violating the rules and was penalized, leading to his withdrawal from the match and the declaration of his opponent, Bae Seong-ho, as the winner. The KGA's previous rule stated that if a player failed to place their stones in the designated box, they would be penalized two points for the first offense, and any subsequent offenses would result in an automatic loss.

The cancellation of the rule is seen as a positive step towards promoting fair play and ensuring the smooth conduct of international Go tournaments. The move is expected to help restore trust and cooperation between the KGA and the Chinese Go Association, and to contribute to the development of unified rules for international competitions. The KGA will inform the Chinese Go Association of this decision and engage in consultations to ensure the smooth conduct of upcoming international tournaments, including the Nongshim Shin Ramyun Cup World Go Strongest Tournament.

Ke Jie had expressed his disappointment and frustration with the original penalty, stating that it was "a huge spiritual trauma" and that he felt he had been treated unfairly. The Chinese Go Association had also protested the penalty, arguing that the rules were unclear and that the punishment was excessive. Bae Seong-ho, the winner of the LG Cup, had also stated that he did not know about the rule and did not think it was necessary, as it did not affect the outcome of the game.

The Chinese Chess Association and netizens have reacted differently to the Korean Chess Institute's decision. Some people believe that the decision is a way for the Korean Chess Institute to placate and delay the Chinese Go community, while others think it is a positive step that can improve the relationship between the two countries' Go communities. The Korean Chess Institute stated that the decision to cancel the rule of "accumulated fouls leading to direct defeat" is intended to ensure the smooth holding of upcoming international tournaments.

The future of the Korean Go Institute's decision may have a significant impact on the relationship between the two countries' Go communities. With the overall decline of Korean Go, Korean players' performance in international competitions has also been poor. The Korean Go Institute may face increased pressure and challenges. At the same time, the Chinese Go community also needs to reassess its relationship and cooperation with the Korean Go community. The cancellation of the "cumulative foul directly loses" rule may lead to a reduction in exchanges and cooperation between the two countries' Go communities.

The Korean Go Institute's decision to cancel the rule may also lead to changes in the rules of international Go competitions. The Institute has stated that it will communicate with the Chinese Go Association and other countries to establish unified rules for future international competitions. This may lead to a more standardized and fair competition environment, but it may also create new challenges and tensions between the different Go communities. Overall, the future of the Korean Go Institute's decision and its impact on the Go communities of the two countries remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain - the cancellation of the "cumulative foul directly loses" rule marks a significant turning point in the history of Korean Go and its relationship with the Chinese Go community.