'New Go association could be needed,' says Lee Se-dol

'New Go association could be needed,' says Lee Se-dol. May. 21, 2016 08:58. by 서정보기자 suhchoi@donga.com. "If the Korean Pro Go Player Association cannot change its regulations, I believe that dissolution of the current association and the creation of a new association can be a solution."

Lee Se-dol (Level 9) stated this on Friday, after the 17th Go competition held by Maxim at Plaza Hotel in central Seoul). Lee recently submitted a withdrawal letter to the Korean Pro Go Player Association.

"I will talk to the association but there are just too many unreasonable regulations to change," Lee said. "If all of them are revised, I might not need to quit, but I do not think it is a realistic scenario."

He recently submitted a withdrawal letter to Yang Geon (Level 9), the chairman of the association, and argued, "I have found these articles absurd in that a player who withdrew from the association cannot participate in any competition held by the association, and that 3 to 15 percent of the prize money and participation payment should be deducted as a contribution to the association."

"The regulation regarding contributions is negotiable, but the one about participation requirement is not," Chairman Yang said. "We will keep our ears open."