Agreement Reached to Hold the 'Chuncheon Korea Open International Taekwondo Tournament' Annually Until 2028

Chuncheon City and Korea Taekwondo Association Sign MOU on the 17th
Mayor Yuk: "A Major Step Toward Establishing Chuncheon as the World’s Taekwondo Hub"

Chuncheon City, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Mayor Yuk Dong-han) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korea Taekwondo Association (President Yang Jin-bang) on the 17th at the Chuncheon City Hall reception room, agreeing to hold the Chuncheon Korea Open International Taekwondo Tournament annually until 2028.

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Chuncheon City and the Korea Taekwondo Association signed a memorandum of understanding on the 17th at the Chuncheon City Hall reception room, mainly agreeing to hold the Chuncheon Korea Open International Taekwondo Tournament annually until 2028. Yuk Dong-han, Mayor of Chuncheon (left in the photo), and Yang Jin-bang, President of the Korea Taekwondo Association, are holding up the memorandum of understanding. Photo by Chuncheon City Hall

According to this MOU, the Korea Open International Taekwondo Tournament will be held annually in Chuncheon from 2025 to 2028.

The Korea Open International Taekwondo Tournament is one of the international competitions approved by the World Taekwondo Federation that awards ranking points.

With this consecutive hosting agreement, Chuncheon is expected to firmly establish itself as a central city of Taekwondo worldwide.

On the 17th, Chuncheon City and the Korea Taekwondo Association signed a memorandum of understanding for the successful hosting of the Chuncheon Korea Open International Taekwondo Championship. After the signing, Yuk Dong-han, Mayor of Chuncheon (left in the photo), and Yang Jin-bang, President of the Korea Taekwondo Association, are seen happily reaffirming their commitment. Photo by Chuncheon City Hall

The Korea Open International Taekwondo Tournament, which first started in 2000 in Chuncheon, the center city of Taekwondo, was held consecutively from 2001 to 2003. From 2005 to 2019, it was held biennially in Chuncheon.

Subsequently, the Chuncheon Korea Open International Taekwondo Tournament Organizing Committee and the Korea Taekwondo Association agreed to hold the Korea Open International Taekwondo Tournament annually in Chuncheon from 2021 to 2024, and this year they signed the MOU again.

Mayor Yuk Dong-han of Chuncheon said, “The Korea Taekwondo Association has once again laid a great foundation for establishing Chuncheon’s status as a central city of Taekwondo,” adding, “We ask for the Korea Taekwondo Association’s unwavering support and encouragement in the future.”

Yang Jin-bang, President of the Korea Taekwondo Association, responded, “So far, Chuncheon’s ideas, passion, and drive for Taekwondo have been the driving force behind today’s agreement,” and said, “We will cooperate with Chuncheon City to make the Chuncheon Korea Open International Taekwondo Tournament a world-class Taekwondo event.”

Meanwhile, after the agreement to host the Chuncheon Korea Open International Taekwondo Tournament, a 2025 vision sharing briefing session for the Chuncheon Leisure & Taekwondo Foundation was held in the Chuncheon City Hall mid-sized conference room.

This year, aiming to build a top-tier city through the Taekwondo legacy, the goals include ▲ a sacred place for Taekwondo practitioners worldwide ▲ a global Taekwondo hub city ▲ a future Taekwondo industry city ▲ a city united through Taekwondo. Through these efforts, the plan is to realize ‘Chuncheon, the World Capital of Taekwondo.’

The main strategic core tasks include first the establishment of the World Taekwondo Federation headquarters, making the headquarters a landmark, creating the World Taekwondo Arena, and expanding large-scale accommodation facilities.

Next are attracting international Taekwondo competitions, fostering the Taekwondo MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry, building a global training base, expanding international Taekwondo exchanges, cultivating Taekwondo professionals, and branding the Taekwondo city.

Additionally, core tasks will include building a Taekwondo cluster, launching a Taekwondo professional league, conducting research and development in the Taekwondo industry, attracting Taekwondo industry expos, promoting Taekwondo training in urban areas, establishing a Silver Taekwondo demonstration team, operating mobile Taekwondo classes, and creating a dedicated Taekwondo organization.