“Establishment of International Taekwondo Academy Should Be Promoted as a National Project”

Korea Taekwondo Association and City/Province Branches Adopt Petition

[Muju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho] The Korea Taekwondo Association (President Yang Jin-bang) and city and provincial branches held a meeting on the 8th at Il-yeoheon in Muju Taekwondowon and adopted a proposal urging the establishment of an international Taekwondo military academy as a national project.

The proposal, which will be delivered to each political party, the 20th presidential candidates, and the government, includes the status of the national martial art Taekwondo, the current situation and crisis Taekwondo faces, tasks for Taekwondo's re-advancement, and the necessity of establishing a military academy to solve these tasks.

Yang Jin-bang, president of the Korea Taekwondo Association, said, “I firmly believe that the military academy will be a great driving force to promote the globalization of Taekwondo, create national interests, and enhance national competitiveness,” and emphasized, “The Korea Taekwondo Association and city and provincial associations will unite to ensure that the establishment of the military academy becomes a government policy and is promoted as a national project.”

Lee Byung-ha, president of the Jeollabuk-do Taekwondo Association, who proposed the adoption of the proposal, also emphasized that Taekwondo is the origin of the Korean Wave (Hallyu), practiced by 150 million people in 210 countries with Korean greetings and commands, and argued for the need to △expand the Korean Wave and cultural territory worldwide △create national interests through qualitative change and globalization △strengthen national competitiveness △contribute to world peace and human prosperity.

Muju County has been conducting a national signature campaign supporting the establishment of the military academy since October last year, and in April, formed the International Taekwondo Military Academy Establishment Promotion Committee composed of Muju residents to build a foundation for public opinion formation.

In particular, to unite the Taekwondo community, agreements have been signed with the World Taekwondo Federation, Kukkiwon, Korea Taekwondo Association, Korea Para Taekwondo Association, among others, and in June, a policy proposal named the ‘Again Taekwondo U-Project (hereinafter U-Project)’ was submitted to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to realize the establishment of the international Taekwondo military academy.

Additionally, the Jeonbuk Mayors and County Governors Council, the City and County Council Chairpersons Council, and the National City, County, and Autonomous District Council Chairpersons Council have also delivered proposals to the Blue House, National Assembly, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and political parties, urging that the establishment of the military academy be promoted as a national project, and in July, requested that it be adopted as a pledge in the 20th presidential election.

The international Taekwondo military academy establishment project is currently reflected as a proposed project in the 20th presidential election Jeonbuk pledge.

Muju=Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Han-ho stonepeak@asiae.co.kr