[HWPL] The 1st Connect Korea Table Tennis Tournament Held in Gwangju
The 1st Connect Korea Table Tennis Tournament was successfully held on September 27 at the Dong-gu Multipurpose Gymnasium in Gwangju, receiving enthusiastic participation and warm applause from citizens.
The event took place as part of HWPL’s “Together: Connecting Korea” campaign, delivering a message of harmony and peace beyond the division of the Korean Peninsula through the universal language of sports.
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| [HWPL]A Ping-Pong Ball Sparks a Rally for Peace |
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 tournament gathered representatives from local governments, civic organizations, associations of North Korean defectors, and disability advocacy groups.
About 280 citizens took part, sharing the common vision of “practicing a culture of peace through sports.”
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| [HWPL]A Ping-Pong Ball Sparks a Rally for Peace |
More than a competition of skill, the tournament became a place for natural interaction among people from diverse backgrounds. As rallies continued, tension eased into smiles and laughter, and cheers gradually filled the gym.
Around a single ping-pong table, differences of generation, ideology, and region were momentarily set aside as participants moved in one rhythm and one direction.
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| [HWPL]A Ping-Pong Ball Sparks a Rally for Peace |
A particularly moving moment came during a special exhibition match. Kim Chun-hwa, a former board member of an association of North Korean defectors, and Kim Dae-gon, a former army commander—once positioned on opposite sides of the military divide—played together as a team.
When the audience learned their story, the stands erupted in applause as the two rallied side by side, symbolizing reconciliation and understanding through sports.
The event also featured a Peace Message Photo Zone, where citizens shared handwritten messages expressing their hopes for peace.
Phrases such as “Let’s continue the rally toward peace” and “A big dream in a small ball—peace for all” reflected a sincere public desire to overcome division and move toward harmony on the Korean Peninsula.
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| [HWPL]A Ping-Pong Ball Sparks a Rally for Peace |
A representative of the Connect Korea Table Tennis Organizing Committee said,
“Today’s matches were more than a sporting event. They symbolized the direction we must pursue for peace, and we will continue this rally for peace together with our citizens.”
The 1st Connect Korea Table Tennis Tournament concluded with the shared understanding that even a small ping-pong ball can carry a powerful message—bringing people together and sustaining the rally for peace.
HWPL official website
