A Ping-Pong Ball Sparks a Rally for Peace — The 1st Connect Korea Table Tennis Tournament Held in Gwangju
The 1st Connect Korea Table Tennis Tournament successfully concluded on September 27 at the Dong-gu Multipurpose Gymnasium in Gwangju, drawing enthusiastic participation and heartfelt applause from citizens. The event, held as part of HWPL’s “Together: Connecting Korea” campaign, aimed to deliver a message of harmony and peace beyond the longstanding division of the Korean Peninsula—using the universal language of sports.
Jointly hosted by the Together Gwangju-Jeonnam Promotion Committee, Honam Ilbo, and the Gwangsan District Chapter of the Gwangju Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities, and organized by the Connect Korea Organizing Committee, the event brought together representatives from local governments, civic organizations, associations of North Korean defectors, and disability advocacy groups. Approximately 280 citizens participated, uniting under the shared vision of “practicing a culture of peace through sports.”
More than a mere competition of skill, the tournament became a venue for people from diverse backgrounds to mingle and communicate naturally. As rallies continued, tension gave way to laughter, and cheers gradually filled the stands. Within the small space of a ping-pong table, participants momentarily set aside differences of generation, ideology, and region—sharing one direction and one rhythm.
One of the most moving moments came during a special exhibition match. Former Association of North Korean Defectors board member Kim Chun-hwa and former army commander Kim Dae-gon, who once stood on opposite sides of the military divide, played together as a team. The audience, learning their story, erupted in applause as the two rallied side by side. Their match symbolized how sports can transcend conflict and become a language of understanding and reconciliation.
Meanwhile, a “Peace Message Photo Zone” invited citizens to share their hopes for peace. Participants wrote heartfelt messages such as “Let’s continue the rally toward peace” and “A big dream in a small ball — peace for all”, expressing their aspirations for a united and harmonious Korean Peninsula. Each message, though brief, collectively reflected the public’s sincere desire to overcome division and move toward mutual understanding.
A representative of the Connect Korea Table Tennis Organizing Committee remarked, “Today’s matches were more than just a sporting event—they were a symbolic display of the direction we must pursue for peace. We will continue this rally for peace together with our citizens.”
This tournament served as a meaningful example of grassroots peacebuilding in everyday life, made possible through cooperation among HWPL, local governments, regional media, and civic groups in Gwangju and Jeonnam. The “Together: Connecting Korea” campaign continues to promote peace across the nation, fostering partnerships between citizens and municipalities to spread the values of coexistence and unity. The Gwangju event vividly embodied this mission, offering hope that the momentum for peace will ripple across Korea—one rally at a time.
