중국전통씨름(中國傳統摔跤)의 실패원인 분석을 통한 한국씨름 발전 및 세계화 선행과제 탐색

Abstract

This study reviews the evolution and globalization efforts of Chinese traditional wrestling for insight that can be applied to the development and implementation of globalizing strategies in ssireum. A review of literature about Chinese traditional wrestling was performed in order to build a history of the sport and trace its development on the path to globalization. Particular focus was applied to the difficulties encountered by the sport in achieving its goals and the implications for South Korea and ssireum follow. The evolution of contemporary Chinese traditional wrestling began in 1949 with the birth of the PRC. In 1956 the Committee for Physical Education started to manage wrestlers through registration and ranking efforts. From 1966 to 1976 traditional wrestling declined in China through the disruptive effects of the Cultural Revolution. In 1982 the country held the second Ethnic Minorities Sports Festival and this marked the beginning of traditional wrestling as a recognized competition event; the festival, held every four years, has continued to include traditional wrestling. In 2002 the Chinese Traditional Wrestling Association, the Chinese Traditional Wrestling Development Council, and the Chinese Traditional Wrestling Promotion Group all worked together to launch an initiative for addressing the immediate needs of dispersing the sport locally and globally in order to eventually elevate it to Olympic status. Some propaganda claims that Chinese traditional wrestling has been well received in over 30 countries around the world and converted many judo players and wrestlers to its ranks by virtue of its safety, clarity, and beauty. However, the realization of Olympic dreams remains unfulfilled at present because of poorly formulated development plans in the Chinese traditional wrestling industries: the sport’s name connotes Chinese nationalism, non-standardized rules dominate competition, too few public schools include support for the sport, lack of international interest has never been addressed, and no method of inculcating civic values in players through competition rituals has been implemented. As a result it can be suggested that the development of ssireum into an international sport requires Korea address important internal prerequisites first: establishing governing bodies for ssireum; standardizing the rules and organization of play and competition; dispersing ssireum through public schools, especially by means of emphasizing the civic and athletic value of participation; increasing the number of college courses in physical education studies with content that includes ssireum history and practice; and cultivating a sufficiently strong national character affiliation with ssireum. In short, the case of Chinese traditional wrestling tells us that before ssireum can be successfully globalized it must first be successfully localized.