The status and roles of Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters, continue to rise as its activities as a prominent private diplomat increase.

Ever since the inauguration of the 17th Kukkiwon President Lee Dong-sup in October, people from all over the world including foreign ministers, sports ministers, foreign Taekwondo trainees, Korean and foreign Taekwondo officials and regular visitors, have been pouring into Kukkiwon constantly. People come to Kukkiwon, look around the place and also watch Kukkiwon Demonstration Team’s training or performance. Trying to capture their experience and remind themselves of the meaningful of Taekwondo, people also take pictures against the flag plaza where the flags of member states stand.

On December 6, Kenyan Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Ministry officials including Minister Alfred Mutua visited Kukkiwon and received Taekwondo uniforms and honorary 6th dans. Minister Mutua was part of Kenyan President William Ruto’s official delegation visiting Korea and made a visit to Kukkiwon accompanied by Korean Ambassador to Kenya, Yeo Sung-jun.

“My son who practices Taekwondo with a black belt told me to visit Kukkiwon and take pictures of this place. Although it was my son who really made me come here, it was a meaningful visit which allowed me to better understand Taekwondo.” said Minister Mutua.

Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin actually called Kukkiwon President Lee Dong-sup himself and asked President Lee to take special care of Kenyan guests. Kenya is a close economic and cultural partner of Korea and serves as a bridge that connects Korea to Africa. Kenya’s presidential delegation watched Kukkiwon Demonstration Team’s performance and Minister Mutua also had the opportunity to learn Taekwondo breaking and kicks.

From December 1 to 2, Pakistan Sports Minister Ehsan-ur-Rehman Mazari, Tunisian Youth and Sports Minister Kamal Daqish and Deputy Chief of Mission Ahmed Boughedir at the Embassy of Tunisia in Seoul visited Kukkiwon and the parties promised to mutually cooperate in further promoting and developing Taekwondo.

On November 24, 20 Taiwanese students practicing Taekwondo at National Agricultural & Industrial Senior High School in Taiwan invited to Korea by their sister school Seoul Technology Information High School made a visit to Kukkiwon. “I’ve been training in Taekwondo since 3rd grade and I’m a 3rd Dan black belt. I fell in love with Taekwondo because of the emphasis of mutual respect and care for others in Taekwondo” said Samumon who is a senior at the National Agricultural & Industrial Senior High School.

Heads of Taekwondo associations around the world and some 20 Taekwondo trainees from Singapore who are visiting Korea for their winter training also made a visit to Kukkiwon recently. International Sambo Federation’ Sports Director Dmitry Maksimov and Korean Sambo Federation President Moon Seong-cheon also visited Kukkiwon and learned about Taekwondo.

“Taekwondo is so close to us but I didn’t really know Taekwondo was loved by so much around the world. I visited Kukkiwon with my son who trains in Taekwondo and I was able to feel how great this martial art is” said Mr. Kim In-su (Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 46 yr) who visited Kukkiwon with his son (4th grade).

Also, about 40 visitors including National Assembly members Lee Yong-ho (People’s Power Party) and Ahn Ho-young (Democratic Party of Korea), Seonbuk District Chief Lee Seung-ro and Taekwondo instructors working abroad all said that at Kukkiwon, they were able to recognize once again the elevated global presence of Korea and the prestige of Taekwondo.

“Kukkiwon is not just a central Taekwondo academy. This is where Taekwondo began and this is where the history of Taekwondo is made. Overwhelming amount of people visiting Kukkiwon does make our everyday work difficult at times but as Kukkiwon’s president and as a private diplomat, I will personally try my best to make the visitors feel welcomed here” explained Kukkiwon President Lee Dong-sup.