Kukkiwon
Hangul	국기원
Hanja	國技院
Revised Romanization	Gukgiwon
McCune–Reischauer	Kukkiwŏn

Kukkiwon, also known as the World Taekwondo Headquarters, is an organization in the Gangnam-gu district of Seoul, South Korea. It was established on 1972-11-30.^[1] The Kukkiwon serves as the issuing body for taekwondo dan rank (black belt degree) promotion and certification. In addition, the Kukkiwon conducts research and instructional seminars and is home to the World Taekwondo Academy, which trains and certifies Taekwondo instructors through its leadership course. The Academy is also entrusted to conduct two instructor courses by the Korean Ministry of Culture and Sports. One is the course for 2nd class coaches and the other is the one for 3rd class instructors of sports for all. Nearly 5,400 people have become instructors and coaches registered with the Korean Ministry of Culture and Sports through these courses. It is also involved in technical development and research of taekwondo, the collection of related materials, public relations and publications, and the training of coaches and students.

In 1998 93 non-Koreans, from 32 countries (including 14 Americans) were issued Graduation Certificates by the Academy at the first Foreigner Instructors Course. This began the Foreign Instructors Training Qualification Course. The curriculum for belt promotion is specified and certified by the Kukkiwon, including required and compulsory poomsae (or forms), sparring, and breaking techniques.

The Kukkiwon is the only taekwondo organization whose dan ranks are recognized by World Taekwondo Federation (WTF).^[2] The WTF governs the competition aspects of Taekwondo as the International Federation of Taekwondo of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The WTF does not issue dan ranks or black belt certifications. According to the Korean/English Taekwondo Magazine "Taekwondo People" September 2007, the Kukkiwon and the WTF are separate organizations, although the two are often confused with each other. As a result, the term "WTF" is sometimes used to refer to the Kukkiwon-style taekwondo.

Note about the WTF:

The WTF was the bridgehead to promote taekwondo sparring as an international sport, now having made it an official sport of the 2000 Summer Olympics after participation in the 1988 Summer Olympics and 1992 Summer Olympics as a demonstration sport.

[edit] References

3. Taekwondo People Kukkiwon Magazine. Issues Vol. 1 through 24 2004 - 2008 Publisher, Kukkiwon. Seoul Korea

4. Kukkiwon Textbook. 2007 Kukkiwon. Seoul, Korea

[edit] See also

• Korean martial arts
• Sport in South Korea
• List of Grand Masters of Taekwondo

[edit] External links

• Official Kukkiwon website
• Kukkiwon Letter to Official Taekwondo Hall of Fame