Kukkiwon to Hold 50th Anniversary Ceremony and Inauguration Ceremony for the 17th President of Kukkiwon, Dong-sup Lee

2PM, November 30 in the Main Building of Kukkiwon … President Dong-sup Lee to Give Presentation on “Future Vision for Kukkiwon”

Kukkiwon, the home of world Taekwondo, is holding the 50th Anniversary Ceremony and an inauguration ceremony for the 17th President of Kukkiwon, Dong-sup Lee.

For the event which will be held at 2PM, on November 30, in the main building, around 400 people including Kukkiwon’s 17th President Dong-sup Lee, current and former executive and employees of Kukkiwon, heads of Taekwondo organizations, senior sabums, Taekwondo Pioneers, heads of city and provincial Taekwondo associations, sports figures and National Assembly members will be gathered.

The event whose slogan will be, “KUKKIWON, The First Taekwondo”, will include a Taekwondo demonstration by Kukkiwon Taekwondo Demonstration Team, the declaration of the opening of the event, a Kukkiwon 50th anniversary commemorative video, Kukkiwon Multi-cultural Choir’s performance, an honorary dan presentation ceremony and a presentation about Kukkiwon’s vision for the future.

The Kukkiwon 50th anniversary commemorative video will highlight the past and present of Kukkiwon, Taekwondo as Korea’s national martial art that continue to spread throughout the world and the direction of Kukkiwon in the future. Kukkiwon’s multi-culture choir “Rainbow” which is comprised of 17 members from 10 countries will perform “Beautiful Nation”, portraying the Taekwondo Spirit which transcends race, religious and ideology. Also, 79 incumbent members of those 225 members of the National Assembly who proposed the amendment of the Act on the Promotion of Taekwondo and Creation of Taekwondo Park to make Taekwondo Korea’s national martial art will be presented with an honorary 7th dan.

There will also be the inauguration ceremony for President Dong-sup Lee. President Lee who was a member of the 20th National Assembly, became the representative of the amendment bill and for about an year, with perseverance, gathered the signatures of 225 members which was more than 80% of the total members of the National Assembly. Just 24 days after proposing the bill, President Lee’s bill was passed, allaying the criticism that there is preferential treatment towards Taekwondo. President Lee filled the vacant post of the 16th president of Kukkiwon, successfully served as the president for the remaining 1 year and 9 months of the term. And on October 7 of this year, he was elected as the 17th president of Kukkiwon and officially embarked on his 3-year term.

President Lee will also give a presentation entitled “Future Vision for Taekwondo” President Lee who became Kukkiwon’s first president to be elected through a direct election, will not have the usual inauguration ceremony but instead give this presentation and explain his determination, plans and vision for Kukkiwon and Taekwondo.

Meanwhile, at 10AM on the same day, in the International Conference Hall of the Korea Science and Technology Center, the “Ceremony for the 50th Anniversary of Sending Taekwondo Instructors Abroad” will be held. Around 40 foreign ambassadors from the nations where Taekwondo instructors have been sent and around 90 instructors sent abroad will gather for this event to thank the instructors for their dedication and hard work over the past 50 years, serving as private diplomats of Korea and for Taekwondo. Kukkiwon will also present honorary dan certificates (3rd dan to 6th dan) to the head and diplomats of the embassies of the nations where Taekwondo instructors have been sent to.

Kukkiwon will also publish “50-Year History of Kukkiwon” and distribute it to Taekwondo organizations at home and abroad. Not for sale.

“As someone who loves and is proud of Taekwondo more than anyone else in the world, I am so happy that we could have this event commemorating the 50th anniversary of Kukkiwon. Starting this year, I will do my utmost to strengthen Taekwondo’s global presence and to successfully build the second Kukkiwon” said President Lee in his commemorative and inauguration speeches.