In 1972 a new training hall opened in Seoul. On 6 February 1973 it was given a name: the . 5,53 It calls itself the World Taekwondo Headquarters, and it is still there today, in Gangnam in Seoul. 50,154
One busy week
On 25 May 1973 the first World Taekwondo Championships were held. 53 Three days later, on 28 May 1973, the World Taekwondo Federation was founded at the Kukkiwon. 4,40,53 Kim Un-yong was the first president of both. 18
The two share the work. The Kukkiwon looks after the martial art: the poomsae, the black belt grades and the certificates, more than 12 million of them so far, it says. World Taekwondo looks after the sport: the rules, the rankings and the Olympic Games. 46,51 That is why people call this family "WT style", "Olympic style" or "Kukkiwon style". 1
A black belt for children
In 1975 the Kukkiwon decided that children under 15 would get a rank instead of a dan. 51,53 A Poom turns into the matching Dan later. 51 And in 1978 the old kwans agreed to close, so that everyone used one grading system. 51,53
On the way to the Games
The International Olympic Committee recognised the World Taekwondo Federation on 17 July 1980. 4 Taekwondo was shown as a demonstration sport at the Seoul Games in 1988 and the Barcelona Games in 1992. 4,8,46,80
Then, on 4 September 1994, the IOC said yes: taekwondo would be a full Olympic sport at Sydney 2000. It has been at every Games since. 4,8,46,80 Olympic , which means sparring, has four weight groups for women and four for men. 8,40
A new name
In June 2017 the World Taekwondo Federation shortened its name to World Taekwondo. 4
The Paralympic Games
World Taekwondo was recognised by the International Paralympic Committee in 2013. 47 Para taekwondo had its first Paralympic Games at Tokyo 2020, which were held in 2021, with six events. There were 10 at Paris 2024. 47 In para kyorugi there are no kicks to the head. 47
Five years before the Kukkiwon opened, the other family had already arrived in Britain. That is the next chapter.