‘9 Years, 6 Months’: Youngest Go Prodigy Breaks 63-Year-Old Record Set by Cho Hun-hyun

[Financial News] The record for the youngest professional Go player in Korea, previously held by Cho Hun-hyun 9-dan, has been broken after 63 years. The new record holder is Yu Ha-jun, who is just nine years old.
According to the Korea Baduk Association, at the 3rd Under-12 Pro Qualification Tournament held on the 18th at the association’s venue in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Hyunwoo Pyo (12) and Yu Ha-jun (9), both 1-dan, successfully passed the qualification tournament.
The 3rd Under-12 Pro Qualification Tournament took place over four rounds from December 6 to 18. Fifty-five main and regional trainees born in 2013 or later, all under 12 years old, competed in a double-elimination format for two professional qualification spots.
Among the four players who reached the fourth round, Hyunwoo Pyo 1-dan secured his professional status first by defeating Oh Se-hyun and Yu Ha-jun in succession. Yu Ha-jun 1-dan then claimed the final spot by winning the decisive match against Lee Seojun.
Born on June 7, 2016, Yu Ha-jun 1-dan became a professional at the age of 9 years, 6 months, and 12 days. This surpasses the previous record set by Cho Hun-hyun 9-dan in 1962, who turned pro at 9 years, 7 months, and 5 days—a record that stood for 63 years.
Yu Ha-jun 1-dan remarked, "After gaining an advantage in the middle of the final game, I was confident I would qualify as a pro," adding, "I am delighted to set the record as the youngest professional, and I aspire to become a player with strong fighting skills like Shin Jin-seo 9-dan."
With the addition of Hyunwoo Pyo and Yu Ha-jun 1-dan, the Korea Baduk Association now has 456 professional players (366 men and 90 women).


hsg@fnnews.com Han Seung-gon Reporter