KOREA FOUNDATION

Taekwondo, the traditional Korean martial art, has grown into a global sport ever since it was made an Olympic event at the International Olympic Committee General Assembly in Moscow in 1980. Now, taekwondo clubs where Korean masters and their local pupils sweat together to hone their skills can be found all over the world. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, taekwondo learners are increasing worldwide and online exchange is more robust than ever. Korean Cultural Centers in foreign countries provide online taekwondo classes along with arts and culture programming to provide beginners and those interested in martial arts with access to learning taekwondo safely in their own homes.

Taekwondo emphasizes discipline and manners of the mind and body. It highly values poomsae, or set patterns of movements combining defense and attack techniques. Good poomsae means a high level of taekwondo skill, and World Taekwondo holds the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships every year to promote athletes’ skills. In 2020, the championships were conducted as an online event, attracting the largest number of contestants in its history and ascertaining a new possibility in these contactless times. Any taekwondo athlete could take part in the online contest by recording a video of their movements, and this open application process boosted keen interest and ardent participation by taekwondo lovers across the globe. Their intrepid kicks, shouts, and impressive poomsae can be viewed at the championships’ website: http://www.onlinepoomsae.com.

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