A New Global Initiative for the Safeguarding of Traditional Korean Beltless Wrestling
The International Mindung Ssireum Federation (IMSF) has officially been established to preserve, research, and promote Mindung Ssireum, a traditional beltless form of Korean wrestling rooted in the northern regions of the Korean Peninsula.
The federation emerges from decades of historical research, field investigations, oral history collection, and international academic exchange related to traditional Korean grappling culture. Particular attention has been devoted to the documentation of Mindung Ssireum and Soksoe, traditional wrestling forms recorded in northern Korea and among Korean communities in Northeast Asia.
The foundation of IMSF builds upon field studies conducted in cooperation with scholars, traditional wrestlers, and cultural practitioners, including research activities associated with Yanbian University in China and subsequent international preservation initiatives.
The federation’s primary objectives are:
• Preservation of traditional beltless Korean wrestling heritage
• International research cooperation and academic exchange
• Development of educational programs and instructor certification
• Organization of international championships and cultural festivals
• Digital archiving of historical materials and oral histories
• Promotion of intercultural dialogue through traditional physical culture
IMSF recognizes Mindung Ssireum as an important component of Korea’s diverse wrestling heritage and seeks to encourage responsible scholarship, cultural safeguarding, and international participation.
As part of its inaugural global campaign, IMSF will begin establishing regional branches, training centers, and international partnerships dedicated to the study and transmission of traditional Korean wrestling culture.
The federation welcomes researchers, coaches, athletes, cultural organizations, and educational institutions interested in participating in this long-term cultural preservation effort.
For further information regarding branch affiliation, research cooperation, and championship participation, interested parties may contact the International Mindung Ssireum Federation Secretariat.
UNESCO Ssireum Heritage (Mindung) – YouTube
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