Victory

승 (seung), "victory", is the declaration by which one competitor is named the winner in kumdo. Under the Korean competition rules found, the match ends with the chief referee's (주심, jusim) declaration of a win or a draw (비김, bigim). The competitors then sheathe their bamboo swords (죽도, jukdo) and step back to bow.

• How victory is decided: a match is in principle played as best of three points (삼판 승부, samphan seungbu). The winner is whoever first scores two points (hanpan) within the match time. If one side has scored one point when time runs out, that side wins.
• If there is no result: overtime is played and the first to score a point wins. A win can also be decided by the referees' decision (판정, panjeong) or by lot, and a match can be declared a draw.
• Other kinds of win: a win by default (부전승, bujeonseung), a win by lot and a win because play cannot continue (경기불능, gyeonggibulneung) are declared as wins too. For a default win in an individual match, the 주심 declares it and shows the flag on the winner's side. In a team match, he or she does so after lining up the team.
• Flags: when the result is decided by 판정, the referees show the flag of the side they judge the winner as the 주심 declares "판정". For a win by lot or when play cannot continue, the 주심 lowers the flag raised on the winner's side as the declaration is made.
• Closing the match: once the result is decided or time has run out, the 주심 stops the match and sends the competitors back to the start line (개시선, gaesiseon). He or she then makes the declaration together with the flag signal.
• Referees: there is one chief referee (주심, jusim) and two assistant referees (부심, busim), who have equal authority in decisions. The 주심 runs the match and declares the winner and loser.
• Referee attention: a Korean Kumdo Association (대한검도회) refereeing guide says all three referees should keep watching the competitor until they show the "승" with the flag. This is so they can check for improper conduct.