The institutionalization of taekwondo in South Korea

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v19i1.2404

Keywords:

Martial arts, combat sports, taekwondo, institutionalization, physical education, military, higher education, career

Abstract

Taekwondo, designated as the official ‘national sport of the Republic of Korea,’ has been a source of pride and a point of reference for the Korean people. A great variety of academic articles and books have been published over the last decades about the general historical formation of taekwondo; however, the topic of taekwondo’s institutionalization in South Korea has been largely neglected or ignored. At some point in their lives, almost every South Korean, particularly within the male population when they enter military service, undergoes some form of taekwondo training. No other country in the world integrates martial arts in such a wide-ranging manner. Hence, this article aims to explain the broad integration of taekwondo into the public and higher education system and the military of South Korea. Subsequently, this study details taekwondo as a career opportunity in South Korea, which is highly unique among nations. Lastly, this article focuses on the broadening and specialization of taekwondo activities with the spread and popularization of ‘demonstration’ and ‘forms’ taekwondo. In summary, this article aims to explore these phenomena and contribute new insights to the field of Taekwondo Studies.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Métricas alternativas

Author Biographies

Hyun Min Choi, Department of Taekwondo, Youngsan University

Hyun Min Choi (PhD) (South Korea) is an assistant professor at Youngsan University. He researches in the fields of martial arts, taekwondo, and sports. He coached the Afghan taekwondo national team at the Beijing Olympics (2008) and the Thai taekwondo national team at the London Olympics (2012). He specializes in sports sociology and is a training expert. He previously worked at the Kukkiwon Research Institute and the World Taekwondo Federation. E-mail: sbvfef@hanmail.net

Udo Moenig, Youngsan University

Udo Moenig (PhD) (South Korea) is full professor at the Department of Taekwondo, Youngsan University, in South Korea. He earned a PhD in Physical Education from Keimyung University. He was appointed as the first foreigner to teach taekwondo at a Korean university in 2005. He researches in the fields of Asian Studies with a focus on martial arts related issues, such as history, philosophy, and the technical aspects of martial arts. He has practical experience in taekwondo and other martial arts for over forty years. E-mail: udomoenig@yahoo.com

Chatchai Choi , Department of Sports Science, Kasetsart University

Chatchai Choi (PhD) (Thailand) is a professor at the Department of Sports Science, Kasetsart University, in Thailand. He researches in the field of taekwondo. Moreover, he has also been the Head Coach of the Thailand Taekwondo National Team since 2002 until present. Under his leadership, the Thailand Taekwondo National Team won 5 Olympic medals. E-mail: cystkd@hanmail.net

References

Ace 1. (n.d.). T’aegwŏndo tan [Taekwondo Team]. [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/mQ6co8

Adigo. (2024). Hakkwajŏngbo (Department information). [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/Wc8DyZ

Ahn, A. (2023.03.19). South Korea has the world’s lowest fertility rate, a struggle with lessons for us all. https://acortar.link/HuVwig

America’s Got Talent. (2021). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_V6PTcCQCc

Bennett, A. C. (Ed.). (2005). Kendo or Kumdo: The Internationalization of Kendo and the Olympic Problem. In Budo Perspectives (Vol. 1, pp. 327-350). Kendo World Publications.

Bennett, A. C. (2015). Kendo – Culture of the Sword. University of California Press.

Capener, S. D. (1995). Problems in the identity and philosophy of t’aegwondo and their historical causes. Korea Journal, 35(4), 80-94.

Ch’oe, K. (2011). T’aegwŏndo seguejwachŏn’gaekwajŏngesŏ t’aegwŏndo shibŏmsa” [Taekwondo demonstration history seen in the process of taekwondo globalization]. Korea National Sport University, PhD dissertation. [In Korean]. https://academic.naver.com/article.naver?doc_id=80302986

Choi, H. H. (2008). Taekwon-do and I (Vol. 1). Masters Publications.

Chŏn, M. (2011.01.27). [Chŏn Min-u ŭip’umsaekoch’al] p’umsae daehoenŭn ŏnjebut’ŏ shijaktoŏnna? [[Chŏn Min-u’s consideration on Poomsae] When did the Poomsae competitions begin?]. Mookas. [In Korean]. https://mookas.com/news/11134

Funakoshi, G. (1973). Karate-dō kyōhan - The master text (Trans. T. Ohshima). Kondansha International Ltd. [Translation of revised edition of 1957; first edition published 1935].

Gillis, A. (2008). A Killing Art - The Untold History of Tae Kwon Do. ECW Press.

Hŏ, I. (2008). T'aegwŏndo hyŏngsŏngsa [Taekwondo’s formation history]. Hanguk Haksul Ch’ŏngbo. [In Korean].

Hobsbawm, E., & Ranger T. (Eds.). (1983). The Invention of Tradition. Cambridge University Press.

Hwang, D. (2021.09.03). World Taekwondo demonstration team reaches finals of ‘America's Got Talent.’ The Korea Times. https://acortar.link/YYcZSr

Johnson, J. A., & Vitale G. (2018). Taekwondo diplomacy: new possibilities for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Physical Activity Review, 6, 237-250. http://dx.doi.org/10.16926/par.2018.06.28

Jung, M. (2023.09.22). Hangjŏuashian’geim: t’aegwŏndo chuyoil chŏngmiribogi [Hangzhou Asian Games: Taekwondo Main Schedule Preview]. [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/bOEvMW

Kang, W., & Lee K. M. (1999). T’aekwŏndo Hyŏndae Sa [A Modern History of Taekwondo]. Pokyŏng Munhwasa. [In Korean, parts published in English at https://acortar.link/sYxXYN].

KBS News. (2010.05.27). T’aegwŏndo chongjuguk, adongsŭp’och’ŭ chŏllak [Taekwondo’s homeland, children’s sport ‘falls’]. [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/w4u4Lq

Kim, H. (Interviewer). (n.d.). General Choi Hong Hi. https://sonkal.cz/en/choi

Kim, Y. (1990). T’aekwŏndo Ch’ŏlhankŭi Kusŏng Wŏlli [Principles Governing the Construction of the Philosophy of Taekwondo]. T’ongnamu. [In Korean].

Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps (Kukkun ch’eyukpudae). (n.d.). [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/3D9CDz

Korea Gas Cooperation. (n.d.). Sŏnsudan sogae (Team introduction). [In Korean]. https://www.kogas.or.kr/site/koGas/1020502000000

Korea Junior Taekwondo Federation (Han’guk chunggodŭnghakko t’aegwŏndo yŏnmaeng). (n.d.). [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/UWy2ML

Korea National Sport University. (n.d.). Han’guk ch’eyuktaehakkyo t’aegwŏndo p’umsaedankaon” [In themiddle of [establishing] a Korea National Sport University Taekwondo Poomsae Team]. [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/DSXMak

Korea Taekwondo Association. (2022.09.02) List of Matches. [In Korean]. https://www.koreataekwondo.co.kr/e003/post/271

Korea Taekwondo Association. (2023). Taehoe annae [Competition Information]. [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/8N8H5U

Korea Taekwondo University Federation. (2023). Taehoe annae [Competition Information]. [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/iaLKci

Korea Times. (2018.04.02). Taekwondo is Korea’s national martial arts – now by law. https://acortar.link/o81L8B

Kukkiwon. (2023 November). Kukkiwŏn p’umdantŭngnong mit ŭngshijahyŏnhwang” [Kukkiwon p’um and tan registration and candidate status]. [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/m2pQZ5

Kyung Hee University/Departments/College of Physical Education (Kyŏnghŭi daehakkyo/hakpu/ch'eyuktaehak). 3.5. Department of Taekwondo. (n.d.). [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/mGw7fs

Kyung Hee University/Graduate School of Physical Education. (n.d.). Department Introduction. http://gradsport.khu.ac.kr/eng/02/01_02_01.php

Madis, E. (2003). The evolution of taekwondo from Japanese karate. In T. A. Green & J. R. Svinth (Eds.), Martial Arts in the Modern World (pp. 185-209). Praeger Publishers.

Moenig, U. (2015). Taekwondo – From a Martial Art to a Martial Sport. Routledge.

Moenig, U, & Kim, M. (2016). The Invention of Taekwondo Tradition, 1945-1972: When Mythology Becomes ‘History.’ Acta Koreana 19(2), 131-164. https://doi.org/10.18399/acta.2016.19.2.006

Moenig, U, & Kim, M. (2017). A Critical Review of the Historical Formation of Olympic-Style Taekwondo’s Institutions and the Resulting Present-Day Inconsistencies. The International Journal of the History of Sport, 34(12), 1323-1342. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523367.2017.1385603

Moenig, U, & Kim, M. (2019). The Japanese and Korean Martial Arts: In Search of a Philosophical Framework Compatible to History. The International Journal of the History of Sport, 35(15-16), 1531-1554. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523367.2019.1618277

Moenig, U, & Kim, Y. I. (2021). The Early Globalization Process of Taekwondo, from the 1950s to 1971. The International Journal of the History of Sport, 37(17), 1807-1826. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523367.2020.1845151

Moenig, U, Choi, H., & Kim, M. (2022). The Founder of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) Choi Hong Hi: Fiction and Fact. The International Journal of the History of Sport, 38(17), 1832-1855. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523367.2020.1845151

Moenig, U, & Choi, H. M. (2023). The So-Called ‘First’ Korean Taekwondo School: The Ch’ŏngo Kwan. The International Journal of the History of Sport, 40(9), 790-807. https://doi.org/10.1080/09523367.2023.2252766

Na Y. (2005). Confusion in the Concept of Budō in South Korean society. In A. Bennett (Ed.), Budo Perspectives (Vol. 1). Kendo World Publications.

Park, S. M. (2010). The paradox of postcolonial Korean nationalism: State-sponsored cultural policy in South Korea, 1965-Present. The Journal of Korean Studies, 15(1), 67-94. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/410183/summary

Seoul National University (SNU) Business School. (n.d.). Taehak saengsaenghwal - sŭp’och’ŭ tongari [University student’s life – Sports club]. [In Korean]. https://cba.snu.ac.kr/campus/activities/club

Sŏ, S. (2007). T’aegwŏndo hyŏndaesawa kildongmuhada [The course of modern taekwondo history]. Dosŏ ch’ulp’ansa sangakihoek. [In Korean].

Sŏ, S.TKD Box. (2021.06.15) 1980-90 nyŏndae t’aegwŏndo shirŏpt’eam ch’angdankwajŏngwa t’ŭkching 1980∼90 [The process and characteristics of taekwondo professional team creation in the 1980s and 1990s]. [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/aT6Kgd

Son, C., & Sŏ, S. (2017). Ŏm Un-kyu. Kukkiwon. [In Korean].

Sunday Journal. (Posted 2022.08.10). Myŏngmun UC pŏk’ŭlli taehak t’aegwŏndo p’urugūream sarajilwigi [The prestigious UC Berkeley Taekwondo program is in danger of disappearing]. (Vol. 1324). [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/IfnnWA

Tae Kwon (Korea Professional Taekwondo Federation). (n.d.). T’im mit sŏnsudan 팀및선수단 [Teams and squats]. [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/vx2D73

Taekwondo Cultural Contents Media. (2018). Taehanmin’guk taehankt’aegwŏndo shibŏmdan (ch'ongjŏngni) mit t’aegwŏndo shibŏmiran? [What is the Korean taekwondo demonstration team [summary] and demonstration]. https://m.blog.naver.com/4736tkdgus/221318983166

Taekwondo Wiki. (n.d.). Kyu Hyung Lee. https://taekwondo.fandom.com/wiki/Kyu_Hyung_Lee

Yong In University. (n.d.). T’aegwŏndoTaehagwŏn [Taekwondo Graduate school]. [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/hLrTRu

Yongin University Taekwondo Demonstration Team Introduction. (Yongin taehakkyo t’aegwŏndo shibŏmdan sogae). (n.d.). [In Korean]. https://acortar.link/g2dN0f

Downloads

Published

2024-04-18

How to Cite

Choi, H. M., Moenig, U., & Choi , C. (2024). The institutionalization of taekwondo in South Korea. Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas, 19(1), 39–54. https://doi.org/10.18002/rama.v19i1.2404

Issue

Section

Articles