Martial Arts World News Magazine - Volume 22 | Special Edition

COVER STORY
think the idea of ​following it unconditionally
is a big problem. In any case, the authority
and status of the instructors should be protected
and the value of Taekwondo should
be given priority.
MAWNews: You were the Secretary
General of the Kukkiwon, but resigned last
month. What are the challenges you see for
Taekwondo’s development?
SMK: As the secretary general of the
World Taekwondo Headquarters, I have
felt the alienation dojang operators, students,
instructors and many others have
experienced. I clearly see the power of
Taekwondo with great potential and could
be a growth engine for not only itself, but
for the world. It is a pity that this Kukkiwon
is not engaging with its members, dojang
owners, masters and instructors, all over
the world, in a more powerful and meaningful
way . In viewing Taekwondo from a
broad viewpoint, the market and culture
will direct the Taekwondo industry sales
in the world. There is also an opportunity
for cultural diplomacy in the world, but the
view of business is too narrow and the
presence of Kukkiwon too limited, only
focusing on Korea and is very regrettable.
We need innovative thinking for limitless
development and growth along with a
well-planned roadmap to promote it. A
plan, strategy, and execution that can be
passed down to the next generation for
strong leadership that creates achievements
and results based on this, and a
blueprint for the future I would like to
reveal the alienation with the idea that it
should be created.
MAWNews: What plans do you have
for the expansion of Kukkiwon?
SMK: The current Kukkiwon business
model of issuing Dan certifications,
and government subsidies needs to be
rapidly and massively overhauled, and
new models must be developed for the
rapidly changing future of the next 10,
20 or even 50 years. For this, economic
stimulus and expansion through the Taekwondo
industry will be necessary. For example,
if you look at the state of American
companies called “GAFA”, the foundations
of giant group companies such as Google,
Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft
are all building business infrastructures
based on human networking.
Since Taekwondo has such a large
global appeal, estimated to be 150 to
200 million, ‘connecting’ these practitioners
in more meaningful ways,
and building channels to bring
more people across the world into
Taekwondo will create an economical
business structure of enormous
scale for and by Taekwondo. Based
on this, I think that it will be possible
to establish a strong foundation that
can contribute to the peace and devotion
of Taekwondo practitioners all over
the world.
MARTIAL ARTS WORLD NEWS VOLUME 22 | SPECIAL EDITION 43