Taekwondo, Dreaming of Inclusive Korea

Since 2014 (except for 2020), with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, Kukkiwon has been collaborating with the Foreigner’s Korean Taekwondo Cultural Association to promote Taekwondo to the U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. They have been sending instructors to all U.S. military bases nationwide and offering Taekwondo education for each base.

Starting with offering Taekwondo education to the U.S. troops, they have expanded this project in 2015 and have since been offering education for multicultural families, foreign workers and international students as well, aiming to assist in their stable settlement in the Korean society through Taekwondo and to contribute to the development of a sustainable multicultural society.

Kukkiwon has sent 49 instructors to a total of 49 educational facilities, including 28 U.S. military bases and 21 schools and centers, aiming for social integration and positive cultural exchange.

From 2021 to 2023, approximately 156,000 people have participated in Taekwondo education annually, with around 6,400 sessions conducted per year.

Moreover, organizing events such as the Taekwondo Championship for the US Armed Forces in Korea, the Korea-U.S. Friendship Joint Military Taekwondo Championship, Foreigners Taekwondo Championship as well as Korean traditional cultural experience festivals and the Foreigners Taekwondo Day celebration, Kukkiwon has been providing various platforms that allow foreigners to better understand Korean culture.

In the future, Kukkiwon will continue to work to create a world where people can support each other without prejudice and come together through Taekwondo, regardless of language, gender or age.