Kukkiwon, the “World Taekwondo Headquarters”, is launching the Future Strategy Planning Group and is appropriating a budget for expanding branches and representative offices overseas. Kukkiwon will also elevate its existing PR Team into PR Office and strengthen its domestic and international PR capabilities.

At the “2022 7th Special Board Meeting” held on December 28, Kukkiwon announced that it has confirmed the project plans and budget plans for 2023. The income for 2023 is KRW 26.2 billion (General Account: KRW 16.4 billion, Special Account: KRW 9.8 billion). The board meeting was carried out by President Dong-sup Lee on behalf of the Chairman of the Board which is currently vacant.

The most notable project for 2023 is the launching of the Future Strategy Planning Group. The Future Strategy Planning Group which will be established directly under Kukkiwon President, will establish and implement policies to carry out the 5 key strategies for 2023 (△Improvement of Kukkiwon and Taekwondo-related policies and systems △Establishment of the second Kukkiwon △Strengthening of Kukkiwon’s global presence △Improvement of the interests and rights of Taekwondoin △Development of Taekwondo industry). The budget allocated for the Future Strategy Planning Group is KRW 250 million. The said 5 key strategies are part of the vision announced by President Dong-sup Lee after he was elected as the 17th President of Kukkiwon on October 17.

Another notable project is the establishment of branches and representative offices overseas. In 2023, Kukkiwon plans to establish overseas branches and representative offices in more than 200 countries around the world and hold policy information sessions and meetings for foreign officials of national Taekwondo associations and Taekwondo instructors.

Policy information sessions will be held as part of overseas training and demonstration team’s trips overseas. Also, 60 Taekwondo instructors will be sent to 60 countries around the world (Currently, there are 54 Kukkiwon-sent instructors in 54 countries).

The PR Team which was under the Strategy Planning Bureau will be elevated and be an office established under Kukkiwon President and the office will focus on its domestic and international PR work. The PR Office will further utilize social media and public quarterly webzines. It’s been 18 years since Kukkiwon published the 31st issue of its quarterly webzine in January 2004.

Also, allocating a KRW 280 million budget, Kukkiwon will start a design consultation to build an evaluation system. In terms of research projects, Kukkiwon will carry out basic research on △Taekwondo history and philosophy and △Techniques (terminology, basic moves, poomsae, competition (self defense techniques), breaking (demonstration). Not only that, Kukkiwon will publish “Kukkiwon Taekwondo Research” which is a journey accredited by the National Research Foundation of Korea, conduct Taekwondo-related statistical surveys and hold academic events.

World Taekwondo Academy (WTA) will also hold 8 certification training sessions in 5 continents and hold 10 technical seminars a year to standardize and promote Taekwondo techniques. The budget allocated for these training sessions is about KRW 720 million.

WTA will also develop new training curriculums and strategies and, publish a guide on Taekwondo self defense techniques and WTA Training White Paper.

Kukkiwon will also hold “World Taekwondo Hanmadang” and “Proud Taekwondoin Awards” which could not be held since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

And, to register Taekwondo into UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, Kukkiwon will allocate a total of KRW 103 million which is twice the budget used in 2022 and develop promotional videos and hold joint academic seminars between North and South Korea. At the special board meeting, Mr. Oh Gyeong-tae was appointed the chief auditor.

“Marking 2023 as the starting year for opening a new half-century of Kukkiwon, we will concentrate all of our efforts and capabilities to make Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters take a great leap forward. I will also take the hard work and valuable advice of the board of directors deep in my heart” said President Dong-sup Lee.