1. Overview
Park Yeong-hun (박영훈Korean, born April 1, 1985), also known as Park Young-hoon or Pak Yeong-hun, is a prominent South Korean professional Go player. He is widely recognized for his exceptional talent and remarkable achievements in the sport, having become the youngest Korean player to achieve the rank of 9 dan at the age of 19. His career is marked by numerous victories in both domestic and international tournaments, solidifying his reputation as one of the leading figures in the Go world. Park's contributions have not only brought him personal accolades but have also significantly elevated the profile of Go, inspiring new generations of players and fostering greater public interest in the strategic board game.
2. Life
Park Yeong-hun's journey into the world of professional Go began in his early childhood, demonstrating a prodigious talent that quickly propelled him through the amateur ranks and into the elite professional circuit. His family background, particularly his father's career in media, provided a supportive environment for his unique path.
2.1. Early Life and Amateur Career
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Park Yeong-hun showed an early aptitude for Go. At the age of 11, in March 1997, he won the National Amateur Go Tournament, setting a record as the youngest winner of an amateur competition. In the same year, he participated as a Korean representative in the "Asia 3-Nation Children's Go Festival" hosted by KBS, NHK, and CCTV. He also secured a victory in the Hakcho Cup, a title he successfully defended in 1998. That year, he also won the Samsung Fire Cup Amateur Go Open and finished as runner-up in the Amateur Guksu Championship in December. By the age of 13, he had become an amateur 4-crown champion, earning him the nickname "Amateur Go World's Lee Chang-ho" (아마바둑계의 이창호Korean). In October 1999, he won the inaugural Prime Minister's Cup.
2.2. Professional Debut and Early Career
Park Yeong-hun officially turned professional in 1999, joining the Hanguk Kiwon and training under the tutelage of Choi Gyu-byeong 9 dan. His professional career saw a rapid ascent. In 2000, he reached the challenger's final in the Baedalwang tournament but was defeated by Lee Se-dol 1-2. His first major professional title came in 2001 when, as a 2 dan, he won the 6th Bacchus Cup Chunwon tournament, matching Seo Bong-soo's record for the lowest dan player to win a title. In 2003, he was the runner-up in the Samsung Fire Cup World Open, which led to his promotion to 5 dan.
A pivotal moment in his career occurred in 2004 when he won the Fujitsu Cup as a 4 dan. This victory not only propelled him to 9 dan, making him the youngest player at 19 years old to achieve this rank, but also earned him an exemption from military service. His promotion to 9 dan in just 4 years and 7 months from his professional debut set a record for the fastest progress in the Hanguk Kiwon under new rules. This rapid rise earned him the nickname "Sosinshan" (소신산Korean, Little God of Calculation).
2.3. Family
Park Yeong-hun's family includes his father, Park Gwang-ho (박광호Korean, born February 1, 1953). Park Gwang-ho had a distinguished career in broadcasting and media. He served as an announcer for KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) from December 1978 to February 1991. Subsequently, he transitioned to SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System), where he worked as a radio PD and television production producer from March 1991 to December 2008. In his later career, he held the position of CEO and President of SBS Contents Me, eventually retiring from the role in October 2012.
3. Career Achievements
Park Yeong-hun has amassed an impressive record of achievements throughout his professional Go career, excelling in both domestic and international competitions. His distinct playing style and consistent performance have cemented his status as a formidable opponent and a respected figure in the Go community.
3.1. Domestic Tournament Titles and Performance
Park Yeong-hun has secured numerous titles and runner-up finishes in South Korean national Go competitions.
| Domestic Titles and Runner-ups | ||
|---|---|---|
| Title | Wins | Runners-up |
| Chunwon | 2 (2001, 2012) | |
| Prices Information Cup | 1 (2005) | |
| BC Card Cup | 1 (2005) | |
| Yeongnam Ilbo Cup | 1 (2005) | |
| Kisung | 4 (2005-2008) | |
| GS Caltex Cup | 2 (2007, 2008) | 4 (2004, 2009, 2011, 2012) |
| Maxim Cup | 2 (2008, 2011) | 2 (2009, 2018) |
| Myungin | 3 (2010, 2011, 2014) | |
| New Pro Strongest | 1 (2003) | |
| Wonik Cup Sibdan | 2 (2006, 2013) | |
| Total | 16 | 9 |
3.2. International Tournament Titles and Performance
Park Yeong-hun has achieved significant success on the international stage, winning several major global Go tournaments, including the Fujitsu Cup twice (2004, 2007), notably in 2004 as a 4 dan. He also won the inaugural Zhonghuan Cup in 2005, the China-Korea Tengen in 2002, the World Weiqi Meijin Championship in 2011, and the Dezhou Cup World Go Masters in 2013.
| Tournament | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ing Cup | - | Round of 16 | - | Quarterfinals | - | Did not participate/Early exit | - | Round of 16 | - | Did not participate/Early exit | |||||||||
| Fujitsu Cup | Quarterfinals | Round of 16 | Winner | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Winner | Quarterfinals | 3rd Place | Quarterfinals | Did not participate/Early exit | Discontinued | - | |||||||
| Samsung Cup | Round of 16 | Runner-up | Quarterfinals | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Runner-up | Round of 32 | Quarterfinals | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Did not participate/Early exit | Round of 16 | Did not participate/Early exit | Round of 16 | Did not participate/Early exit | Round of 16 | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit |
| LG Cup | Quarterfinals | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Round of 16 | Round of 32 | Round of 32 | Semifinals | Semifinals | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Did not participate/Early exit | Round of 32 | Semifinals | Runner-up | Round of 16 | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Round of 32 | Did not participate/Early exit |
| Chunlan Cup | Round of 24 | - | Did not participate/Early exit | - | Round of 24 | - | Did not participate/Early exit | - | Did not participate/Early exit | - | Did not participate/Early exit | - | Did not participate/Early exit | - | Runner-up | - | Runner-up | - | Quarterfinals |
| Toyota & Denso Cup | Round of 32 | - | Did not participate/Early exit | - | Semifinals | - | Round of 16 | Discontinued | - | ||||||||||
| BC Card Cup | - | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Did not participate/Early exit | Quarterfinals | Discontinued | - | ||||||||||||
| Bailing Cup | - | Round of 64 | - | Did not participate/Early exit | - | Round of 32 | - | Did not participate/Early exit | - | Discontinued | |||||||||
| Mlily Cup | - | Did not participate/Early exit | - | Semifinals | - | Runner-up | - | Round of 16 | - | ||||||||||
| Xin'ao Cup | - | Did not participate/Early exit | - | Discontinued | - | ||||||||||||||
| Tianfu Cup | - | Did not participate/Early exit | - | Discontinued | |||||||||||||||
| Zhonghuan Cup | - | Winner | Round of 16 | - | Semifinals | Discontinued | - | ||||||||||||
| TV Asia Championship | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Discontinued |
| Nongshim Cup | 4 wins, 1 loss | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | 4 wins, 1 loss | 0 wins, 1 loss | Did not participate/Early exit | 0 wins, 1 loss | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit | Did not participate/Early exit |
3.3. Playing Style and Reputation
Park Yeong-hun is renowned for his distinctive Go playing style, particularly his mastery of the endgame (ヨセJapanese). He is often referred to as an "endgame master" (ヨセの名手Japanese). This skill has led to comparisons with the legendary Go player Lee Chang-ho, earning Park the nicknames "Sosinshan" (소신산Korean, Little God of Calculation) and "Second God of Calculation" (第2の神算Japanese). These nicknames highlight his precise calculation abilities and strategic depth, especially in the latter stages of a game where small differences can determine victory.
3.4. Team Competitions and Leagues
Park Yeong-hun has been a key player in various team-based Go events, demonstrating strong leadership and consistent performance.
In the **Korean Go League**, he holds the record for the highest single-season winning percentage. In 2005, playing as the captain for the Shinseong Construction team, he achieved an undefeated record of 9 wins and 0 losses, including the postseason, contributing significantly to his team's championship victory. This 100% winning rate in a single season remains unique. Following this, in an event match between the 2005 Chinese League champions Shanghai and Korean League champions Shinseong Construction, Park defeated Liu Shizhen and Chang Hao, extending his winning streak as captain to an impressive 11 consecutive victories. He has played for various teams in the Korean Go League, including Shinseong Construction (2005, 2008), Yeongnam Ilbo (2006, 2009), Jeonnam Nobleland (2007), POSCO (2010), T-broad (2011), Kixx (2012), Netmarble (2013), SK Energy (2014, 2015, 2016), Korea Prices Information (2017), and BGF (2018).
He has also participated in the **Chinese Weiqi League**, including the B League in 2012 (Sichuan Jiazi), 2014 (Guangzhou Guangri), and 2018 (Guangdong Donghu Qiyuan), and the A League in 2013 (Guangzhou Guangri) and 2017 (Guangdong Donghu Qiyuan).
In international team competitions, Park's notable performances include:
- CSK Cup Go Asia vs. Europe Team Competition**: He participated in 2002 (2-0), 2005 (2-1), and 2006 (3-0), contributing to Korea's team success.
- Nongshim Shin Ramyun Cup World Go Championship**: He achieved a 4-1 record in 2003 (defeating Gu Li, Wang Licheng, Chang Hao, Cho U) and 2006-07 (defeating Peng Quan, Takao Shinji, Chen Yaoye, Yoda Norimoto), showcasing his strength in team relay matches.
- Sports Accord World Mind Games**: He was part of the men's team that finished as runner-up in 2014.
- Jinlongcheng Cup World Go Team Championship**: His Korean wildcard team placed 3rd in 2015.
4. Personal Life
Outside of his demanding professional Go career, Park Yeong-hun maintains a balance with various personal interests and hobbies.
4.1. Hobbies
Park Yeong-hun enjoys a range of leisure activities. His known hobbies include playing tennis and engaging in Tetris, a popular tile-matching video game.