Kukkiwon (), also known as World Taekwondo Headquarters, and home of the World Taekwondo Academy, is where the official taekwondo governing organization was established by the South Korean government. It is supervised by the International Sports Division of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Kukkiwon is based at 635 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea. Construction of the main building commenced on 19 November 1971, and was completed on 30 November 1972, with the organization being officially named on 6 February 1973. In May 1973, the Korea Taekwondo Association and Kukkiwon hosted the first World Taekwondo Championships, with 200 taekwondo competitors from 17 countries in attendance. Kukkiwon has had a permanent taekwondo demonstration team since September 1974

  1. Song Moo Kwan (1st Kwan) – Won Sik Kang (b. 1938)
  2. Han Moo Kwan (2nd Kwan) – Kyo Yoon Lee (1930–2017)
  3. Chang Moo Kwan (3rd Kwan) – Nam Suk Lee (1925–2000)
  4. Moo Duk Kwan (4th Kwan) – Chong Soo Hong (1930–1998)
  5. Oh Do Kwan (5th Kwan) – Jong Myung Hyun (1925–?)
  6. Kang Duk Won (6th Kwan) – Kum Hong Lee (1935–2010)
  7. Jung Do Kwan (7th Kwan) – Yong Woo Lee (1928–2006)
  8. Ji Do Kwan (8th Kwan) – Chong Woo Lee (1928–2015)
  9. Chung Do Kwan (9th Kwan) – Woon Kyu Uhm (1929–2017)
  10. Promoters of the Unification of the Kwan:
  11. Won Sik Kang (b. 1938): Economics and Commerce graduate from Kyung Hee University, 8th Dan of Song Moo Kwan, founder of its central dojang in Seoul, and main representative of the Kwan from the mid-1970s. As KTA director, he launched the Committee for the Unification of the Kwan.
  12. Byung Ro Lee (1928–1982): Political Science graduate from Chung-Ang University, 8th Dan of Ji Do Kwan, master at its central dojang in Seoul. He executed the Koryo Poomsae for the KTA’s first manual in 1972 and played a key role in the unification process.
  13. Promoters of Poomsae Unification:
  14. Young Sup Lee (1927–2001): Began practicing Song Moo Kwan in 1947 in Incheon. In 1965, he became a member of the Poomsae Development Committee and served as the first Poomsae instructor in the training session preceding the Kukkiwon’s opening. He executed Sipjin and Jitae Poomsae for the KTA manual in 1972.
  15. Soon Bae Kim (1931–2014): As a member of the Poomsae Development Committee, he worked on the design and implementation of the Taegeuk Poomsae for beginners and intermediate practitioners. 8th Dan of Chang Moo Kwan, he served as assistant to the grandmaster of his Kwan.
  16. Hae Man Park (b. 1933): Began martial arts training in 1947 at a Kwan in the Jongno District, later incorporated into Chung Do Kwan. In 1967, he joined the Poomsae Development Committee and was appointed head of the Kukkiwon demonstration team, traveling internationally to teach the Poomsae developed by the committee.

Kukkiwon as a Sporting Organization

During the National Assembly session on 18 February 2010, the Taekwondo Promotion Act was passed, transforming the Kukkiwon from a foundation into a formal sporting organization incorporated under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of South Korea (MSCT).

List of Presidents

The President of Kukkiwon is the head of the institution and determines its overall direction and policies. In carrying out official duties, the president is supported by an executive committee and cooperates with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of South Korea (MCST). Originally established as a foundation, Kukkiwon was reorganised as a sports organisation and incorporated in the MCST in February 2010; as a result, official chronologies include two separate numerical sequences: one for Kukkiwon as a foundation and another as Kukkiwon Incorporated.

Over the years, the method for electing the president has evolved. Initially, the appointment was made by a small group of designated officials; later, a more democratic electoral system was introduced, granting voting rights also to non-Korean representatives holding a high dan rank.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+

! colspan=3 | No.

! rowspan=2 | President

! colspan=3 | Term of office

! rowspan=2 | Notes

|-

! No.

! Kukkiwon<br />Foundation

! Kukkiwon<br />Incorporated

! Start

! End

! Length

|-

| 1

| 1 – 8

| –

| Un Yong Kim<br/><small>(1925–2017)</small>

| 7 August 1974

| 9 January 2004

| 29 years, 5 months

| style="text-align:left;" | Seventh president of the KTA; founder and main architect of the World Taekwondo Federation and of the Kukkiwon Demonstration Team.

|-

| 2

| 9 – 10

| –

| Woon Kyu Uhm

| 2 March 2004

| 17 September 2009

| 5 years, 6 months

| style="text-align:left;" | Unanimously elected president of Kukkiwon; worked to heal internal divisions left by his predecessor.

|-

| 3

| 11

| –

| Seung Wan Lee

| 16 January 2010

| 3 June 2010

| 5 months

| style="text-align:left;" | Strongly opposed the incorporation of Kukkiwon into the MCST and advocated for the institution’s independence. His stance led to internal tensions, and he resigned in protest.

|-

| 4

| 12

| 1

| Won Sik Kang

| 4 June 2010

| 27 May 2013

| 2 years, 11 months

| style="text-align:left;" | Faced tensions arising from Kukkiwon’s incorporation into the MCST, which marked its transition from a foundation to a corporation. Despite this, he succeeded in reconciling internal factions and restoring unity.

|-

| 5

| 13

| 2

| Kyu Hyung Lee

| 28 October 2013

| 31 December 2013

| 2 months

| style="text-align:left;" | At the time of his election, he was still an active Taekwondo master and a professor at Keimyung University. The national and international Taekwondo community deemed him unsuitable for the role, leading to his resignation.

|-

| 6

| 14

| 3

| Man Soon Jeong

| 6 February 2014

| 26 May 2016

| 2 years, 2 months

| style="text-align:left;" | Focused on improving fairness in Dan/Poom promotion examinations and strengthening the Taekwondo education system by establishing international referee and instructor certification exams. He also worked to foster a more cohesive community in Korea and abroad.

|-

| 7

| 15

| 4

| Hyun Duk Oh

| 3 June 2016

| 8 January 2019

| 2 years, 7 months

| style="text-align:left;" | His election drew criticism, particularly from America Taekwondo United, as he held the rank of fifth dan, whereas previously only Grand Masters had served as Kukkiwon president. Further controversy stemmed from internal conflicts and his role in introducing the accelerated Dan promotion test. He remained in office until his arrest for violating the Political Funds Act.

|-

| 8

| 16 – 17

| 5 – 6

| Dong Sup Lee

| 29 January 2021

| 31 October 2025

| 4 years, 9 months

| style="text-align:left;" | First president elected through general elections. He actively pursued reforms within Kukkiwon and worked to restore unity. Due to his passion and dedication, he was nicknamed “Mister Taekwondo.”

|-

| style="background:#e0ffff; color:inherit;" | 9

| style="background:#e0ffff; color:inherit;" | 18

| style="background:#e0ffff; color:inherit;" | 7

| style="background:#e0ffff; color:inherit;" | Ung Suk Yun

| style="background:#e0ffff; color:inherit;" | 1 November 2025

| style="background:#e0ffff; color:inherit;" | –

| style="background:#e0ffff; color:inherit;" | –

| style="background:#e0ffff; color:inherit; text-align:left;" | Second president elected through general elections; current head and legal representative of Kukkiwon.

|}

Promotion examinations

Promotion examination for Dan and Poom ranks in Taekwondo is the process through which a practitioner’s technical skills, physical preparedness, and mental discipline are evaluated. Achieving a rank represents a mark of prestige within the art. The current system includes four Poom levels (for practitioners under 15 years old) and nine Dan levels (for adult practitioners).

Standardization of Examinations

Following the unification of the Kwan, the Kukkiwon faced the complex challenge of standardizing Dan and Poom promotion systems. While all members agreed on the need for a unified system, they had to reconcile differing technical standards and traditions. With the founding of the Korea Taekwondo Association in September 1961, the association took over the issuance of Dan certificates, which had previously been issued by individual kwans. The first official promotion examination under the new unified system was held on 11 November 1962 at the KTA, establishing a schedule of six annual examination sessions. With the opening of the Kukkiwon in 1972, the administration of rank examinations was transferred to the new institute. In 1980, the KTA delegated the issuance of Dan and Poom certificates to the Kukkiwon, effective from 1 March that year.

The international spread of Taekwondo created the need to hold examinations outside Korea. Initially, only Korean masters —holders of high Dan ranks — could serve as examiners; later, this role was extended to foreign masters holding at least a 4th Dan. This expansion, however, led to some local deviations from Kukkiwon’s technical standards. Furthermore, in July 1984, the issuance of foreign (non-Korean) Dan certificates was temporarily delegated to World Taekwondo, resulting in a period when certificates were issued by two different organizations. At the end of 1987, it was established that the Kukkiwon would become the sole authority responsible for issuing ranks, effective 1 January 1988.

To ensure uniformity of examinations, rules were introduced to strengthen the central role of the Kukkiwon in evaluation procedures, both nationally and internationally. In this context, the Master Education program (International Taekwondo Master Course – ITM) and the Examiner Education program (Taekwondo Poom/Dan Examiner – TPE) were established and continue to be organized by the Kukkiwon. Completion of these courses is required for official recognition by the Kukkiwon as a certified examiner for Dan and Poom promotion tests.

Poom Rank: Examinations for Children

In 1970, starting from the 38th promotion examination, the KTA introduced separate tests for children. In February 1973, the Kukkiwon hosted the first official examination exclusively for children, and from that point onward, examinations for those under 15 were organized monthly. The Taegeuk poomsae were integrated into promotion tests in 1975. From 1 March 1983, Dan ranks for practitioners under 15 were officially designated as Poom, while the fourth Poom level (the highest among Poom ranks) was only introduced in 1999 following a regulation revision.

Abroad, Poom examinations are typically held alongside Dan tests and generally feature slightly simplified requirements. Poom ranks are automatically converted to Dan once the practitioner reaches the appropriate age.

Modern Examinations

Promotion tests typically include several core components: poomsae performance, sparring (Gyeorugi), breaking (Gyeokpa), self-defense (Hosinsul), and theoretical knowledge. Examinations may be conducted in local dojangs, but for Dan and Poom ranks, examiners must have completed the Kukkiwon’s Master Education (ITM) and Examiner Education (TPE) programs.

Current promotion rules are as follows:

  • 1st – 3rd Dan: Examination in front of a local technical committee, including at least one examiner certified according to Kukkiwon standards.
  • 4th – 7th Dan: In addition to the local committee examination, a video recording of the test must be submitted to the Kukkiwon for final evaluation. Promotion is confirmed by the Kukkiwon once technical requirements are met. Depending on the rank, a written thesis and a martial and athletic curriculum may also be required.
  • 8th – 9th Dan: The exam must be conducted directly at the Kukkiwon before the Technical Deliberation Committee, which also evaluates the candidate’s career.

Dan and Poom Certificates

As of May 2026, the Kukkiwon has issued over 12.3 million certificates, cementing its central role in this martial art. These certificates are recognized worldwide as the most prestigious ranks in Taekwondo. Only holders of Kukkiwon-issued Dan and Poom certificates are eligible to participate in international competitions organized by World Taekwondo.

Over the years, the Kukkiwon has redesigned the Dan and Poom certificates. To ensure the highest quality, surveys were conducted, the issuance system restructured, new color schemes developed, various types of paper researched, and different printing techniques tested. A distinctive feature of the new design is the clear graphical differentiation between the rank levels, divided into five categories:

  • 1st to 4th Poom, for youth practitioners;
  • 1st to 3rd Dan, for instructors;
  • 4th and 5th Dan, for masters (Sabum);
  • 6th and 7th Dan, for high-ranking Dan holders (Godanja);
  • 8th and 9th Dan, for grandmasters (Dae-Sabum).

Global Distribution of Dan and Poom Certificates

thumb|Distribution of Poom ranks in South Korea (dark blue) and in the rest of the world (light blue), updated January 2026. Logarithmic scale.

thumb|Distribution of Dan ranks in South Korea (dark brown) and in the rest of the world (light brown), updated January 2026. Logarithmic scale.

As of May 2026, the total number of Dan and Poom ranks worldwide exceeds 12.3 million, with Poom holders (around 6.7 million.

Events

thumb|Flagpoles and flags of the World Taekwondo Federation (now World Taekwondo) and of the Korean Taekwondo Association at the Kukkiwon

World Taekwondo Hanmadang

The World Taekwondo Hanmadang (originally Taekwondo Hanmadang) is one of the largest international Taekwondo competitions, bringing together thousands of practitioners from over 50 countries each year. The event hosts more than 5,000 participants who compete in various disciplines, including Poomsae, breaking techniques (Gyeokpa), and self-defense. It does not include sparring (Gyeorugi), as this discipline is already featured in the olympic program and governed by World Taekwondo. The festival was established on 9 December 1992 by the Korea Taekwondo Association with the slogan “Unifying the World through Taekwondo.” Since 1999, the event has been jointly organized by the Kukkiwon and the KTA, and since 2000 it has been held regularly at the Kukkiwon headquarters.

The World Taekwondo Hanmadang is distinguished from other official competitions because it allows participation for anyone holding a Kukkiwon-issued Dan or Poom certificate, without additional competitive requirements. Beyond the sporting aspect, the event promotes the spread of Taekwondo culture and Korean heritage, emphasizing spiritual values and the shared cultural identity among practitioners worldwide.

Source:

  • No Year Period Place
  • 1 1992 9th Dec.~11th Dec. The 2nd Olympic Gym
  • 2 1993 9th Dec.~11th Dec. KBS 88 Gym
  • 3 1994 26th Nov.~28th Nov. Jamsil Students Gym
  • 4 1995 26th~28th Aug. KBS 88 Gym
  • 5 1996 29th Nov.~1st Dec. KBS 88 Gym
  • 6 1997 27th~30th Nov. Jamsil Students Gym
  • 7 1998 31 Jul~2nd Aug. The 2nd Olympic Gym
  • 8 1999 16th Dec. Kukkiwon
  • 9 2000 13th~15th Dec. Kukkiwon
  • 10 2001 13th~15th Nov. Kukkiwon
  • 11 2003 26th~29th Nov. Kukkiwon
  • 12 2004 4th~7th Nov. Kukkiwon
  • 13 2005 1st~4th Nov. Kukkiwon
  • 14 2006 1st~4th Nov. Muju County, Jellabukdo
  • 15 2007 1st~4th Nov. Suwon, Gyeonggi
  • 16 2008 16th~20th Jul. Anaheim, U.S.A
  • 17 2009 12th~15th Aug. Dangjin ChoonNam
  • 18 2010 8th~11th Dec. kukkiwon
  • 19 2011 10th~13th Dec. Namyangju City, Physical Education Culture Center
  • 20 2012 28th~31st Aug. kukkiwon
  • 21 2013 28th~31st Aug. Daejeon Chung-Moo Sports Hall
  • 22 2014 28th~31st Aug. Pohang Gymnagium
  • 23 2015 30th Jul ~ 2nd Aug. Pyeong Taek Ichung Cultural
  • 24 2016 3rd ~ 6th Aug. KUKKIWON
  • 25 2017 29 July ~ 1st Aug AnYang Gymnasium
  • 26 2018 28 July ~ 31 July Halla Gymnasium
  • 27 2019 26 July ~ 30 July YongPyong-Dome
  • 2020, 2021 and 2022 Not Held.
  • 28 2023 Seongnam World Taekwondo Hanmadang Contest Outline 2023.05.21 15:26
  • 29 2024 Mungyeong World Taekwondo Hanmadang Contest outline 2024.04.29 16:56
  • 30 2025 Kukkiwon World Taekwondo Hanmadang Thursday, July 17 to Saturday, July 19

See also

  • Korean martial arts
  • Sport in South Korea

References

  • Kukkiwon official website
  • Kukkiwon official website
  • Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism
  • Kukkiwon at Google Cultural Institute