History of BIBA

Blackie’s International Baduk Academy (BIBA) was founded on January 31, 2011, by Kim Seung-jun 9p (Blackie) and me, Kőszegi Diána 2p (Dia).

Before BIBA, there was an International Baduk Academy (IBA) in Korea. Unfortunately, IBA closed at the end of 2010, but many of its international students wanted to remain in Korea and continue their Baduk studies. At the same time, I was frequently receiving messages from foreigners asking where they could study Baduk in Korea. Until then, I usually recommended IBA or Kings Baduk School, but both eventually closed.

In January 2011, another foreign student contacted me looking for a place to study. Around the same time, the yongusil (study room) where Blackie and I had studied was preparing to close. We had already been teaching at international camps and organizing workshops in countries such as Turkey and the United States, so we knew there was genuine interest from foreigners who wanted to study seriously in Korea. That was when we decided to create a Baduk school specifically for international students.

Kim Seung-jun 9p contacted the owner of Jinseok Baduk Academy in Sanbon. Thanks to their long-standing friendship, we were able to start BIBA within the same facility as the Korean academy. This gave foreign students the opportunity to study and compete alongside strong Korean players while experiencing the same training environment as Korean Baduk students.

In September 2011, we rented our own office on the same floor as Jinseok Baduk Academy, allowing students from both schools to continue studying and playing together. In July 2013, both Jinseok and BIBA moved to a new building and continued operating side by side.

In 2017, BIBA moved to Gangnam, Seoul, and expanded its activities by opening classes for Korean students as well. The same year, we launched BIBA Online, allowing students from around the world to study with us regardless of location.

Like many educational institutions, BIBA was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. While our physical academy temporarily closed, we remained active online through lessons, lectures, and international events.

After the pandemic, BIBA gradually reopened through a series of seasonal programs and training camps. Since May 2025, we have been operating continuously in close cooperation with Flower Baduk, creating even more opportunities for our students to study with professional players and strong amateurs.

In March 2026, BIBA reopened its student accommodation, this time in Sinchon (신촌), Seoul. The dormitory allows international students to enjoy an affordable and convenient Baduk study experience while living in one of Seoul’s most vibrant university districts.

Since its founding, BIBA has welcomed more than 250 students from 36 countries. Some have come for a few weeks, while others have spent months or even years studying in Korea. Our goal has always remained the same: to help students improve at Baduk, build international friendships, and experience Korean culture through the game we love.

We hope to continue sharing Baduk (Go, Weiqi, Baduk) with people from all around the world for many years to come.