SEOUL - The Korean Mahjong League is ready for its first real international tournament. In July, subscription will open for the event, which will take place on Sunday, October 3rd, in the Korean capital of Seoul. Jaewon Yu, spokesman of the mahjong club, hopes to welcome players from Japan as well as from Europe.

Takunori Kajimoto of the Mahjong Museum in Japan has advised the mahjong club about the organisation of the event. He tells Mahjong News: "Earlier, I made a plan to set up a friendly tournament for Japanese and Korean players coming April. But at the time, no Japanese players were interested to participate this tournament. So I give it up then.  But I surely will go to Korea forthis new initiative."

Kajimoto and Jaewon You met last November in Korea. "I had read about mahjong in Korea, so I decided to go there for some research." He played in two parlors in Seoul, "and I make many friends there. It was easy for me to communicate with them because many of them  speak Japanese."

Subscription

Subscription to the tournament will be open during the month of July, the actual tournament will take place on October 3rd, after an ‘orientation evening’ on October 2rd.

Mahjong News: Why such a long time between end of the subscription and the actual event?

Jaewon Yu: “Because, if no foreigners will subscribe, we will have time to change the competition type a little.”

Mahjong News: “hat will be done on the orientation evening?

Jaewon Yu: “We will introduce our rules and machines. Afterward, you can practice mahjong with Korean players.”

Mahjong News: Why is the tournament just one day? If one makes such a long trip, just one day may be a bit short for the event.

Jaewon Yu: “For various reasons. Mr. Kajimoto said one day is comfortable for Japanese. To Korea, Japan is closer than Europe. So, In my opinion, if foreigners will subscribe to this event, there probably will be more Japanese than European players.

“Moreover, in Korea, anyone can play mahjong everyday. We have a commercial place where you can play mahjong. This is also comfortable for Europeans: one day is for the competition, and on the other days one can also can play mahjong with Korean players.”

Mahjong News: What will it cost to subscribe? How can you subscribe?

Jaewon Yu: “The cost of the tournament will probably be 10,000 won ~ 20,000 won. (approx. 7 euro ~ 14 euro). It is not sure yet, it depends on the price that the venue will cost.”

By the end of March, the website of the Korean Mahjong League will be extended with an international page. Then more details about the tournament will be available.