On Wednesday, February 10, 2010, the Kukkiwon hosted a public hearing which
was organized by the Taekwondo Newspaper and Internet Association. The
topic of the public hearing was the proposed takeover of the Kukkiwon by the
Korean Government through the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport. Over
500 participants attended the hearing.

The Ministry of Culture Sport and Tourism was invited but did not show up.

The overwhelming majority of attendees strongly felt that it was wrong for
the government to take over the Kukkiwon. Towards the end of the hearing,
the public was invited to comment. ETU President Pragalos stood up and said
that if the Korean Government took over the Kukkiwon, then he and all of
Europe would stop issuing Kukkiwon Poom and Dan certification. The President
from India said the same thing.

Taekwondoin from Korea originally felt that it was impossible to resist the
Korean government takeover, but the tide has been turning on that sentiment.
Many Korean Taekwondoin spoke passionately about the evils of goverment
intervention in this matter and felt very strongly that the Kukkiwon must
remain independent, just like it has since is founding in 1972.

The participants felt that if the Korean government wish to assist in the
development of Taekwondo, then they can do so. However, it is one thing to
assist in the development and quite another to control that development. The
overwhelming majority of participants felt that Taekwondo should and must
remain in the hands of Taekwondoin.