Park Sang-jun Claims Second Career Sobaek Jangsa Title at Uiseong Garlic Wrestling Tournament

Park Sang-jun of the Jeongeup City Hall wrestling team has captured his second career Sobaek Jangsa title at the Withus Jeju 2026 Traditional Ssireum Uiseong Garlic Jangsa Tournament.

Today, at the Uiseong Gymnasium in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Park defeated his teammate Hwang Chan-seop 3-2 in the best-of-five Sobaek-class (72kg or lighter) final.

Having won his maiden Sobaek title at last year's Mungyeong tournament, Park rode the traditional victory litter for the second time with this latest triumph.

Park seized the early momentum by winning the first bout with a counter-reversal (dwijipgi-doechigi), but allowed a 1-1 tie after falling to an inner leg sweep (andari) in the second.

He pulled ahead again by taking the third bout with a push-out (mile치기), only to be caught by a spinning body-twist (chadoligi) in the fourth, forcing the match into a decisive final bout.

Park secured the championship by successfully executing another counter-reversal in the fifth and final bout.


In the women's individual events held at the same venue the previous day, Kim Chae-o, Lee Yu-na (both of Ansan City Hall), and Kim Ha-yun (Geoje City Hall) claimed the Mae-hwa, Gukhwa, and Mugunghwa Jangsa titles, respectively.

In the Mae-hwa-class (60kg or lighter) final, Kim Chae-o defeated Choi Da-hye of Goesan County Office 2-0 to claim her 8th career Mae-hwa Jangsa title.

In the Gukhwa-class (70kg or lighter), Lee Yu-na defeated Eom Ha-jin of Gurye County Office 2-1.

Lee, who captured her first-ever Gukhwa Jangsa title at this year's Seollal tournament, achieved her second career victory.

In the Mugunghwa-class (80kg or lighter), Kim Ha-yun defeated Lee Jae-ha of Ansan City Hall 2-0.

With 5 Mugunghwa titles and 5 Gukhwa titles combined, she increased her total career Jangsa titles to 10.

In the women's team final held on the same day, Ansan City Hall, led by manager Kim Ki-baek, defeated Geoje City Hall 4-2 in a best-of-seven team series (with individual matches played in best-of-three sets).

Ansan City Hall has now swept the top spot in all 6 women's team competitions held since the Seollal tournament earlier this year.

(Photo courtesy of the Korea Ssireum Association, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.