Ping Pong Diplomacy

North and South Korea

Title

One Korea, One Table

Status

Finished

Start date

2018

Project description

Korea PRK and Korea Republic compete together as a unified Korean team.

Aim

To support both countries with the participation in different ITTF events.
To create world-wide awareness for peace building activities.

Target group

Public in general (awareness)

Foundation funding

EUR 120,000

Table tennis is one of the first sports unifying North and South Korea through sport.

Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour:

19 - 22 July, 2018 in Daejon, Korea

Unified pairs such as women’s doubles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles were formed. Among them, the unified mixed double pair (JANG Woojin/ KOR and CHA Hyo Sim/PRK) won the Korean Open mixed doubles title, receiving heated support from Koreans. For North Korean players, this was the first time they participated in the event held in Korea.

1 - 4 November 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden

8 - 11 November 2018 in Linz, Austria

Made up of JANG Woojin (KOR) and CHA Hyo Sim (PRK), the unified mixed doubles pair’s qualification to the Grand Final was ensured in Linz.
“We are very happy to play together as Unified Korea. We want to show that we can join together as a strong team. It´s great and exciting to be part of the next chapter of Ping Pong Diplomacy.”

ITTF World Tour Grand Finals:

13-16 December, 2018 in Incheon, Korea

Defeating the current mixed double champions in the first round and Korean pair in the second round, the unified pair proceeded to the finals and played against Hong Kong. They became runners up.