¡Ø Changes in technique resulting from Dum

Our country started using the 4 and a half point Dum in 1956, with the foundation of the Kuksu competition. But one more point was added to this after the Yomiuri paper asserted that white should win if a 5-point Dum would result in a tie. Since the 30th Honinbo competition in 1974, a 5 and a half point Dum has commonly been used.

But the Dum of 6 and a half points originated in Korea. In the third LG world championship competition in 1998, the 5 and a half point Dum which had been used for 25 years was dumped, and 6 and a half points adopted. This lead was followed in the Nongshim Shin-ramen competition, the Hungchang competition, and even in the Samsung Fire competition, starting in 1999. The 6 and a half point Dum has become the new standard.
  Way back in 1988, when the 5 and a half point Dum still had the status of an immutable truth, Ing Changqi's rules prescribed the use of a Dum of 8 points in the Ing's Cup competition. But Ing's rules were not welcomed due to this sudden and sensational increase of more than 2 points.
  But there has been enormous development in the study of Baduk for the last ten years, and intense consideration of opening strategy for black. These developments have been welcomed by many Chinese and Japanese players, so it is expected that the Chinese and Japanese Baduk Associations will soon adopt a 6 and a half point Dum as well.
The size of Dum has an enormous effect on the strategy of the game. As the size is increased, there is more and more pressure on black to preserve the more active role in the opening, and more and more flexibility in white's play. Baduk has an intense psychological component, and Dum plays a crucial role in this.
  How much will the value of Dum increase by the end of the 21st century? Or will some kind of sensational reversal of past trends lead to its reduction?

-- by Jung Yong-jin, Editor of'Baduk' magazine