¡Ø Cyber Baduk, which will lead 21st century Baduk culture

The appearance of cyber Baduk is not a one-day event, but an ongoing process which will continue into the 21st century. Interest is now centered on how this will change Baduk culture.
The current ranking systems on the internet are far removed from the standard ranking systems of the three Asian countries: in particular, no distinction is made between amateur and professional. This phenomenon seems to be spilling over into the wider Baduk culture within the country.
It is a waste of money on the web to pay for all the relevant expenses, apart from rewards, when international competitions take place. Furthermore, the relationships of these competitions with each country's Baduk Association are not clear.
It will be essential to write programs which implement the different Baduk rules of Korea, Japan and China. The existing programs are believed to be adequate for Baduk play at the beginner level, however.
It remains to be seen how many pro players in each nation will be active in cyber Baduk, and whether there will be broadcasts of all games played by pros. Most observers willing to put time and money into cyber Baduk will be interested only in games played by these top players.
In turn, because cyber Baduk facilitates simultaneous play and lessons, one may expect more growth in the ranks of teaching pros than tournament pros.
The Internet will also change amateur competitions, which were once limited mainly to stronger players, by providing more clubs and fun events for the average player.
The biggest problem cyber Baduk has to overcome is that of anonymity; solutions to this problem are already being studied in schools of social science and communications. To hold official games, it will be necessary to use digital cameras attached to the computers of the two players, and final rounds in international competitions will probably still need to be held in a real place with the players meeting face to face.
Amateurs who enjoy gambling on Baduk games will soon be satisfied with the introduction of cyber money, which will become standardized.
The progress of cyber Baduk can't be avoided or suppressed. All the structures in the culture of Baduk will have to change in response to this growing phenomenon.
Matches initiated on line may lead to players meeting off line, and former Baduk fans may be encouraged to play Baduk again. Above all, cyber Baduk has the potential to involve teenagers, women, and people outside of Korea, Japan and China in the game and in Baduk culture. This would be impossible without cyber Baduk.
The challenge facing the whole Baduk world is to make maximum use of the speed and convenience of cyber space, while maintaining the traditional style and culture of modern Baduk.

-- by Shin Byung-sik, SBS PD