Yoon Do, a third-year student at Hongdong middle School in Hongseong, and his father Song Young-seop,
Relocated from Mapo-gu to Hongdong in March 2016.
Began playing billiards in 6th grade, achieving remarkable progress in just three years
Top-tier Korean billiards players like Kim Haeng-jik, Jo myung-woo, and Lee Mi-rae were labeled as prodigies from a young age.Their success stems from early, structured training and unwavering parental support.Today, these athletes serve as role models for aspiring players. Parents, recognizing their children’s talent and passion for billiards, ofen encourage them to pursue the sport professionally. Notable young talents include Kim geon-yoon (Busan Dongrae High School), Kim Do-hyeon (Bucheon Sangdong High School), and Lee Hwan-hee (Gumi Geumo Elementary School). Behind these rising stars are dedicated fathers, often referred to as ‘billiard dads.’ This series highlights their inspiring journeys, with the seventh installment focusing on Song Yun-do, a third-year student at Hongdong Middle School, and his father, song Young-seop.
In March 2016, Song Yun-do’s family moved from Mapo-gu, seoul, to Hongseong in South Chungcheong province. Song young-seop, a 52-year-old lawyer, sought a healthier environment for his son. Despite the daily commute to Seoul for two years, seeing Yun-do thrive in the countryside affirmed the decision to relocate.
The move to Hongseong proved pivotal for Yun-do. From a young age, he displayed a deep passion for his interests. His father often remarked, “Yun-do excels in what he loves but struggles with what he doesn’t.” for instance, he would watch his favorite films repeatedly to memorize every line, and rather than endure piano lessons, he preferred exploring the rice fields.
It all began when I accompanied my father to a billiards hall and discovered the game’s appeal. My dad, who boasts a 3-ball score of 21, has been playing billiards for nearly a decade as his college days. After a hiatus, he resumed the sport as a hobby with his friends about ten years ago.
In March 2021,my father,Song Young-seop,was playing billiards with his friends at a local hall in Hongseong. “I brought Yundo, who was in 6th grade at the time. I handed him four balls and let him play solo at an empty table. To my amazement,he spent three to four hours engrossed in the game,rolling the balls around.”
That marked Yundo’s initial encounter with billiards. Relocating from Seoul to Hongseong proved to be a pivotal moment for him.
How does Yundo find life in Hongseong (Hongdong)?
“Having lived in Hongdong since the first grade of elementary school, it’s hard to draw comparisons with Seoul. Though, being here allowed me to discover billiards. I’m thrilled as I don’t have to attend academies, stress over studies or exams, and most importantly, I can pursue my passions. If I were in Seoul, this wouldn’t have been possible. The only downside is that the billiards hall is quite a distance away.”
My journey with billiards began the very first day I visited the hall with my dad.
in 2023,during my second year of middle school,I clinched three gold medals at the National Billiards Competition.
A ‘jack-of-all-trades’—from soccer and badminton to being a vocalist in the school band.
When Yundo developed an interest in billiards, his father arranged for him to learn the fundamentals from Lee Seok-man, the owner of Hollywood Billiards hall in Hongseong, over seven months (May to December 2021).Skipping the 4th pitch, Yundo jumped straight into the 3rd pitch and swiftly mastered the basics.
During school breaks, Yundo honed his billiards skills under the guidance of Han Sang-mo in his first year of middle school and later trained with Choi Jong-bok (PBA) in his second year. By his third year, he shifted his focus to practical gameplay, opting to play matches rather than take formal lessons. His father observed his dedication, noting that Yundo attended lessons four times a week for two hours each session, leading him to believe that billiards held a special place in Yundo’s life.
Yundo’s journey in billiards began in the sixth grade of elementary school, and his progress was remarkable. Within just three years, he achieved a score of 40 points, earning him the title of the ‘Hongseong billiards prodigy.’
According to his father, Yundo possesses remarkable talent across various fields.In elementary school, he competed as a soccer player in provincial sports events and recently secured a victory in a school badminton tournament. Additionally, he formed a band with his middle school friends, taking on the role of lead vocalist and performing at school festivals.
Yundo’s passion for billiards quickly translated into impressive competition results. In his first middle school tournament, the ‘2022 Jeongeup National Billiards championship,’ he secured second place in the middle school division. This was only the start of his success. In 2023, during his second year of middle school, he clinched three gold medals, triumphing in the Namwon National billiards Championship (July), the Gyeongnam Goseong-gun Cup (August), and the Korea Sports Council President’s Cup (November).
In 2024, Yundo stepped up to compete in the general division, advancing to the round of 64 in the Taebaek Mountain Cup (July) and the round of 128 in the Gyeongnam Goseong-gun Cup (September).
Yoon
Yun-do’s inspiration is Cho Jae-ho, South Korea’s top billiards striker. He admires Cho’s confident and decisive playing style. Cho Jae-ho once explained his rapid shot execution, saying, “A quick cue time allows you to execute practiced shots without hesitation.”
This year (2025), Yun-do is set to begin high school at Bangtong High School, where he aims to dedicate himself to billiards. While he’ll miss the carefree days of playing with friends on country roads, he looks forward to building strong bonds with fellow billiards enthusiasts.
As he prepares for college,Yun-do has intensified his billiards training. However, living in a rural area presents challenges. To access quality practice facilities, he travels up to 60km daily, visiting clubs in Cheonan, Hongseong, and Yesan. He maintains this rigorous schedule five days a week, with his father taking on the duty of driving him to and from the clubs or train stations, frequently enough late at night.
Traveling between Hongseong,Yesan,and Cheonan… Covering 60km to perfect his game
Mastering the thick jungle shot… “My goal is to be a player who truly enjoys billiards”
This year,Yun-do will attend Bangtong High School to focus on his billiards career.
Lately, yun-do’s father has been receiving advice from others suggesting that Yun-do should move to a larger city to further hone his skills, as urban areas are home to many talented players. While this advice is well-meaning, it has become a source of concern for his father.
Hongseong: A Place for Growth and balance
Yoon Do’s father chose Hongseong as their home for a reason. “I want Yoon Do to be more than just a skilled billiards player. I hope he builds meaningful friendships and explores life’s joys through diverse experiences,” he shared. Encouraging Yoon Do to engage in activities like music, soccer, and badminton, his father believes Hongseong offers a better environment for holistic growth than a bustling city. After every practice session, his father’s question remains the same: “Did you enjoy yourself today?”
Strengths and Areas for Betterment
As a former billiards player, Yoon Do’s father understands his son’s game deeply. Yoon Do excels at analyzing the ball’s behavior and devising innovative strategies, but he sometimes struggles to stay calm under pressure. “Maintaining composure in critical moments is something he’s working on,” his father noted.
Yoon Do echoes this sentiment. “I’m most confident in shots that require precise control,but when an attacking possibility arises,I sometimes hesitate,fearing failure. I’m focusing on staying positive and confident,” he explained.
A Vision for the Future
Yoon Do’s father envisions him as a player who cherishes the game, values camaraderie, and embraces both wins and losses with grace. “I hope he becomes someone who enjoys playing with peers, mentors, and newcomers, and who savors victories while staying grounded,” he said.
Yoon Do shares this aspiration. “Even if billiards becomes my career, I want to be known as a player who truly loves the game,” he stated.
Living the Dream in Hongseong
For Yoon Do, Hongseong is more than just a hometown—it’s the foundation of his journey to becoming a well-rounded billiards player. [황국성 MK빌리어드뉴스 기자]
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Yun-do,a rising billiards star,has demonstrated remarkable dedication and skill in his sport. Since beginning his journey in the 6th grade, he has rapidly improved, achieving a 40-point score within three years. His early success was marked by three gold medals in 2023 during his second year of middle school, where he triumphed in the Namwon National Billiards championship (July), the gyeongnam Goseong-gun Cup (August), and the Korea Sports Council President’s Cup (November).
In 2024, Yun-do transitioned to the general division, advancing to the round of 64 in the Taebaek Mountain Cup (July) and the round of 128 in the Gyeongnam Goseong-gun Cup (September).His inspiration is Cho Jae-ho, South Korea’s top billiards striker, whose confident and decisive playing style Yun-do admires. Cho’s beliefs of quick cue execution resonates with Yun-do, who strives to emulate this approach in his own game.
As Yun-do prepares to enter Bangtong high School in 2025, he is set to focus even more intensely on his billiards career.Despite the challenges of living in a rural area, he travels up to 60km daily to access quality practice facilities in Cheonan, Hongseong, and Yesan. This rigorous schedule, maintained five days a week, is supported by his father, who drives him to and from clubs or train stations, often late at night.
Yun-do’s father, Song Young-seop, hopes that Yun-do will grow into a player who enjoys the game with teammates, seniors, and juniors, unafraid of defeat. Recently, there have been suggestions that Yun-do should move to a larger city to further develop his skills, given the concentration of talented players in urban areas. While this advice is well-meaning, it has become a point of concern for his father.
Yun-do’s goal is to become a player who truly enjoys billiards, and he is persistent to master even the moast challenging aspects of the game, such as the thick jungle shot. as he embarks on this new chapter at Bangtong high School, he looks forward to building strong bonds with fellow billiards enthusiasts and continuing to refine his craft.
Yun-do’s journey is a testament to his passion and perseverance, and he remains a promising figure in the world of billiards. His victories and dedication serve as an inspiration to aspiring players, and his story highlights the importance of support and hard work in achieving one’s dreams.
