Artisan behind Korea's legendary baduk boards
His right index finger tells the entire story before he utters a single word. Unable to straighten naturally and stuck resting lifted upward, misshapen from more than six decades of pressing down on hand planes, it is the quiet, undeniable badge of a craftsman who has spent a lifetime shaping raw timber into pieces of living history. At 75, Shin Wan-sik bears the physical toll of 60 years…
His right index finger tells the whole tale without needing a word spoken. Bent and raised, the finger is a silent testament to six decades of relentless labor shaping timber into masterpieces. At 75 years old, Shin Wan-sik bears the physical markings of a craftsman who has poured six decades into his art. He controls nearly three-quarters of Korea's domestic baduk board market through his business, Six Brothers Baduk.
Baduk, known worldwide as go, has seen countless historic moments crafted on his boards. For the latest milestone, a custom board he created was gifted by President Lee Jae Myung to President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in Gyeongju in 2025. This influence extends beyond ceremonial gifts; one of his boards was featured in the high-profile match between Lee Se-dol and AlphaGo, as well as being the personal choice of legendary players Cho Hun-hyun and Lee Chang-ho—inspirational figures behind the film "The Master."
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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