The National Taekwondo Education Foundation was established in 2007, and through its dedicated efforts, it has succeeded in getting taekwondo recognized as an official curriculum in public schools across the United States.

As a result, we are able to introduce the American people to the proud culture and history of Korea through the noble spirit of taekwondo, which is a great foundation for civil diplomacy.

In addition, through the establishment of taekwondo culture in the United States and around the world, and through international cooperation networking, we are contributing to enhancing the international community’s understanding of Korea, promoting friendship and goodwill, and promoting the excellence and spirit of our nation to the world.

Now, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and the United States, we are planning to hold an event in Times Square in Manhattan under the theme of ‘For a One World Without War = NOWAR’ to promote the globalization of taekwondo and its establishment as an educational project in the Americas.

In particular, this year, we plan to make the event more meaningful and contribute to promoting Korea to the world through the collaboration of Taekwondo and KPOP.

We hope to honor the sacrificial service of Taekwondo masters for the globalization of Taekwondo education over the past 100 years in a rapidly changing world, and to open a new opportunity for mutual respect and harmony among the 200 million Taekwondo people in 220 countries around the world, and further globalization of Taekwondo.

We never forget that this is the result of the holy sacrifices and efforts of countless taekwondo masters around the world when they first pioneered the path of taekwondo around the world. Thus, the current spirit of taekwondo has blossomed around the world.

The spirit of taekwondo is inherently imbued with the meaning of “hongik human,” which means “to benefit human beings widely,” and we are convinced that the more taekwondo is spread around the world, the more we will have a world without war, without pain, and without sorrow.

Taekwondo is no longer just a martial art, but a sport that trains the minds and bodies of people around the world.

And it is time for us to fulfill our final goal. We will never stop here.

Our final task is to bring the spirit of taekwondo to the entire world through education, so that we can fulfill the great task of human peace.

Thank you very much.

Tournament President Kim Kyung Won