Dragon Boat Racing: South Korean team to make appearance at Asian Games

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The dragon boat race will once again be making an appearance at the Asian Games later this summer. In South Korea, the sport is relatively unknown, but officials hope to use it to spread peace by fielding a joint team with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Shane Hahm reports.

Sunday morning on the river is practice time for these paddlers. Members of this amateur dragon boat club get ready for their weekly run. What started off as a university group is now a well-established social gathering with dozens of followers.

JANG EUN-HYUK PADDLER, ARES DRAGON BOAT TEAM "It allows me to break a sweat in the morning and it rejuvenates me. It also helps me test my mental limits when my physical fitness level is low, and so, I get to know myself better."

The team competes in regional events year-round. On this day, they train in a 10-man canoe rather than their traditional dragon boat. In a country where dragon boat racing is a non-mainstream sport, securing infrastructure to compete is a challenge.

LEWIS LIM CAPTAIN, ARES DRAGON BOAT TEAM "In China, Singapore, and Canada, for instance, dragon boat racing is established as a daily sport so people can even gather after work to paddle. In Korea, you can only practice in limited spaces, when the sun is up, on the weekends. It would be nice to have a little facility and financial support."

SHANE HAHM SEOUL "It's all fun and games when these dragon boat enthusiasts gather weekly on the Han River. It's a sport where teamwork and chemistry are especially vital. Unfortunately, not many in South Korea are familiar with dragon boat racing. But the discipline could get a big boost in exposure later this summer at the Asian Games in Indonesia."

South Korea's canoe federation is pursuing a joint traditional boat racing team with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Discussions between both sides will determine whether a unified squad comes to fruition.

JEON CHOONG-RYUL SECRETARY GENERAL, KOREAN SPORT AND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE "We are discussing joint participation in the upcoming Asian Games in August and ways of cooperation including cross-border exchanges in different kinds of sports and joint training."

Politics is the last thing these weekend warriors worry about when they're paddling on the water. But when it comes to peace, they're all in the same boat. Shane Hahm, CGTN, Seoul.