// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Kukkiwon say to the kick? You're a kick above.

Kukkiwon

국기원
Kukkiwon headquarters in Seoul
Formation	1972/1973
Type	GO
Purpose	Martial art and sport
Location	Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea
Official language	Korean
President	Ung Suk Yun
Parent organization	Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Website	www.kukkiwon.or.kr/

Kukkiwon (Korean: 국기원; Hanja: 國技院; lit. 'National Sport Headquarters'), also known as World Taekwondo Headquarters, is the central institution and the highest technical authority of Taekwondo, as well as the headquarters of the World Taekwondo Academy (WTA). The organization operates under the supervision of the International Sports Division of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and works closely with World Taekwondo (WT, formerly the World Taekwondo Federation). Kukkiwon is responsible for the regulation, promotion and development of Taekwondo at both national and international levels.

Kukkiwon is located at 635 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea. The central training hall (originally called the Central Dojang) and the organization were officially named “Kukkiwon” on February 6, 1973. In May 1973, the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) and Kukkiwon hosted the first World Taekwondo Championships, which were attended by 200 athletes from 17 countries. Kukkiwon has maintained a permanent Taekwondo demonstration team since September 1974.

History

Kukkiwon
Hangul	국기원
Hanja	國技院
RR	Gukgiwon
MR	Kukkiwŏn

Entrance gates, 2010

The Kukkiwon was established within the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) with the aim of unifying the various martial arts styles practiced in the kwan (martial arts schools) that emerged in South Korea after the Second World War. As such, it is regarded as the birthplace of modern taekwondo and represents the world's leading authority for the definition of technical standards and style.

Towards the establishment of the KTA

Main article: Korea Taekwondo Association

The process of unifying the kwan was long and complex.

Following Korea's liberation in 1945, many of the leading masters of the major kwan began discussing the possibility of unifying the Korean martial arts. Their objective was to revive traditional Korean martial arts by transforming them into a single unified discipline.

A first attempt to harmonize the styles practiced in the different kwan took place in July 1946. Masters including Byung Jick Ro, founder of Song Moo Kwan; Sang Sup Chun, founder of Yun Moo Kwan (later renamed Ji Do Kwan); Won Kyo Lee, founder of Chung Do Kwan; and Byung In Yoon, founder of the school that later became Chang Moo Kwan, agreed to standardize the teaching methods used in their respective schools. However, the outbreak of the Korean War interrupted this process, scattering many of the masters throughout the country.

Several years after the end of the war, the leading figures of the kwan resumed their efforts. Between 1959 and 1961, several organizations were established with the goal of achieving unification. Among them, the Unification Consolidation Committee was established in September 1961. The committee established the Korean Taesoodo Association (now Korea Taekwondo Association). The presidency initially remained vacant, while Un Kyu Uhm and Chong Woo Lee were appointed vice presidents. In June 1962, the association became affiliated with the Korean Olympic Committee, and later that year Myung Shin Chae became the first president of the KTA.

In 1965, the Korean Taesoodo Association officially changed its name to the Korea Taekwondo Association. The change took place during the tenure of Choi Hong Hi and marked the official adoption of the name Taekwondo, a term that had originally been coined in 1955.

Establishment of the Kukkiwon

In January 1967, following the end of Byung Jick Ro's presidency, Yong Chae Kim, a prominent member of the ruling party, became president of the Korea Taekwondo Association. Kim initiated the project to establish a central training hall dedicated to taekwondo. He secured approximately 28 million won (around US$30,000 at the time) in government funding for the construction of what became known as the Central Dojang.

After Un Yong Kim was elected the seventh president of the KTA in January 1971, the project took definitive shape. Plans called for the construction of a building covering more than 4,000 square metres. Yeoksam-dong, then a largely undeveloped area, was selected as the site in the hope that the new headquarters would become a landmark symbolizing the identity of taekwondo.

Construction of the main building began on 19 November 1971 and was completed on 30 November 1972. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 19 November 1971 in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, attended by government officials, sports leaders, and foreign diplomats. On 6 February 1973, the Central Dojang was officially renamed Kukkiwon (from the Korean kukki or gukgi, "national sport", and won, "institute" or "headquarters").

Committee for the Unification of the Kwans

Parallel to the establishment of the Kukkiwon, the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) acted as mediator in an effort to reconcile the different kwan traditions, which remained divided into numerous factions throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. After several unsuccessful attempts, the KTA succeeded in reorganizing them into nine major groups in 1974 (see nine original kwnas). That same year, the Kwan Directors Committee, a body affiliated with the KTA, agreed to dismiss the concept of the kwan as independent organizations, with the aim of presenting the Taekwondo movement as having a single, unified origin. The process was completed on 20 May 1976, when the traditional names of the kwans were formally abolished and replaced with numerical designations used solely for administrative purposes. On 23 February 1976, the KTA also established the Committee for the Unification of the Kwans, composed of representatives from the ten officially recognized kwans as well as the directors of the Central Dojang. By this time, the Chong Bon Kwan had also been created. Rather than functioning as a traditional kwan, it served as an administrative body responsible for coordinating the transition toward a unified Taekwondo system and addressing organizational and technical issues inherited from the earlier fragmented structure, thereby laying the foundations for a more coherent and centralized administration of the art.

On 5 August 1978, the ten remaining kwans were formally dissolved as autonomous organizations, and their directors signed a joint declaration confirming their integration into a single administrative structure, the Kukkiwon. This represented a milestone in the history of Taekwondo, bringing an end to the historical divisions among the kwans and establishing a centralized system for technical administration, including the regulation of examinations and promotions to higher dan ranks.

Signatories of the Proclamation for the Unification of the Kwans

The proclamation of 5 August 1978 was signed by representatives of the principal kwans together with the directors of the Central Dojang. The signatories included:

1. Promoters of the Kukkiwon Foundation
   • Yong Chae Kim (1932– ). An 8th dan black belt of the Kang Duk Won, he served two consecutive terms as the fifth and sixth President of the Korea Taekwondo Association. He played a leading role in the unification of the kwans, the development of a unified poomsae system, and the establishment of a central governing body. Outside Taekwondo, he later served as Minister of Labour of South Korea.
   • Un Yong Kim (1931–2017). Seventh President of the Korea Taekwondo Association, he was re-elected for eight consecutive terms. He was the founding President of the Kukkiwon and worked extensively to secure the recognition of Taekwondo as an Olympic sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
2. The Nine Kwans and Their Representatives
   • Song Moo Kwan (1st Kwan): Won Sik Kang (1938– ).
   • Han Moo Kwan (2nd Kwan): Kyo Yoon Lee (1930–2017).
   • Chang Moo Kwan (3rd Kwan): Nam Suk Lee (1925–2000).
   • Moo Duk Kwan (4th Kwan): Chong Soo Hong (1930–1998).
   • Oh Do Kwan (5th Kwan): Jong Myung Hyun (1925–?).
   • Kang Duk Won (6th Kwan): Kum Hong Lee (1935–2010).
   • Jung Do Kwan (7th Kwan): Yong Woo Lee (1928–2006).
   • Ji Do Kwan (8th Kwan): Chong Woo Lee (1928–2015).
   • Chung Do Kwan (9th Kwan): Woon Kyu Uhm (1929–2017).
3. Promoters of the Unification of the Kwans
   • Won Sik Kang (1938– ). A graduate in Economics and Commerce from Kyung Hee University in Seoul, Kang is a black belt of Song Moo Kwan and founder of its central dojang in Seoul. From the mid-1970s he became the principal representative of the kwan and, during his tenure as a KTA director, launched the Committee for the Unification of the Kwans.
   • Byung Ro Lee (1928–1982). A graduate in Political Science from Chung-Ang University, Lee was a black belt of Ji Do Kwan and an instructor at its central dojang in Seoul. He performed the Koryo poomsae for the first KTA instructional manual published in 1972. His contribution to the unification process was instrumental.
4. Promoters of the Standardization of Poomsae
   • Young Sup Lee (1927–2001). He began training in Song Moo Kwan in Incheon in 1947. Known for his exceptional height and agility, he joined the Poomsae Development Committee in 1965. Shortly before the opening of the Kukkiwon, he became its first poomsae instructor and performed the Sipjin and Jitae poomsae for the first KTA manual published in 1972.
   • Soon Bae Kim (1931–2014). As a member of the Poomsae Development Committee, he contributed particularly to the creation of the Taegeuk poomsae for beginner and intermediate practitioners. He was a black belt of Chang Moo Kwan, where he served as assistant to the grandmaster.
   • Hae Man Park (1933– ). He began practicing martial arts in 1947 at a kwan in Jongno District that later became part of Chung Do Kwan. In 1967, he joined the Poomsae Development Committee. Appointed head of the Kukkiwon Demonstration Team, he travelled extensively throughout the world teaching the standardized poomsae developed by the committee.

Kukkiwon as a Sports Organization

On 18 February 2010, the National Assembly of South Korea passed the Taekwondo Promotion Act, which transformed the Kukkiwon from a private foundation into a statutory public sports organization under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) of South Korea.

Presidents

The President of the Kukkiwon is the head of the institution and is responsible for defining its strategic direction. In carrying out these duties, the President is assisted by a board of directors and works in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) of South Korea. Originally established as a foundation, the Kukkiwon was reorganized as a sports organization in February 2010. As a result, official records use two separate numbering systems: one referring to the Kukkiwon as a foundation and another referring to the Kukkiwon as a public sports organization following its incorporation under the MCST.

Over the years, the method of selecting the President has changed. Initially, the position was appointed by a limited group of designated officials; later, a more democratic electoral system was introduced, granting voting rights also to non-Korean representatives holding high dan ranks.

The actual president of Kukkiwon is Uno Suk Yin, which was elected on 1 November 2025.

No.			President	Term			Notes
No.	Kukkiwon foundation	Kukkiwon organization		Start	End	Length
1	1 - 8	-	Un Yong Kim (1931 - 2017)	7 August 1974	9 January 2004	29 years, 5 months	Seventh president of the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA), founder of the World Taekwondo Federation and creator of the Kukkiwon Demonstration Team.
2	9 - 10	-	Woon Kyu Uhm	2 March 2004	17 September 2009	5 years, 6 months	Elected unanimously as President of the Kukkiwon, he worked to address the internal divisions left by his predecessor.
3	11	-	Seung Wan Lee	16 January 2010	3 June 2010	5 months	Strongly opposed to the incorporation of the Kukkiwon into the MCST, he attempted to preserve the institution's independence. His position caused internal tensions, and he resigned in protest.
4	12	1	Won Sik Kang	4 June 2010	27 May 2013	2 years, 11 months	During his term, he faced tensions resulting from the incorporation of the Kukkiwon into the MCST, which transformed the institution from a foundation into a public sports organization. Kang nevertheless succeeded in reconciling internal factions and restoring unity.
5	13	2	Kyu Hyung Lee	28 October 2013	31 December 2013	2 months	At the time of his election, he was still an active Taekwondo instructor and professor at Keimyung University. Despite this, the national and international Taekwondo communities considered him unsuitable for the position, leading him to resign.
6	14	3	Man Soon Jeong	6 February 2014	26 May 2016	2 years, 2 months	During his term, he focused on improving fairness in dan and Poom promotion examinations and strengthening Taekwondo education systems by introducing examinations for international referees and instructors. He also promoted greater cohesion within the Taekwondo community in South Korea and abroad.
7	15	4	Hyun Duk Oh	3 June 2016	8 January 2019	2 years, 7 months	Oh's election was criticized, particularly by the America Taekwondo United, because he held a fifth dan rank, whereas previous Kukkiwon presidents had traditionally been Grand Masters. Further distrust was related to internal tensions within the Kukkiwon and his involvement in the creation of a dan promotion test system. Oh remained in office until his arrest for violations of the Political Funds Act.
8	16 - 17	5 - 6	Dong Sup Lee	29 January 2021	31 October 2025	4 years, 9 months	First President elected through a general election system. He worked extensively to reform the Kukkiwon and restore unity within the organization. Due to his dedication and commitment as President, he was nicknamed "Mr. Taekwondo".
9	18	7	Ung Suk Yun	1 November 2025	incumbent	–	Second President elected through a general election system and current head and representative of the Kukkiwon.

Dan and Poom Certificates

As of July 2026, the Kukkiwon has issued more than 12.3 million Dan and Poom certificates, consolidating its central role within Taekwondo. These certificates are recognized worldwide as the most prestigious rank certifications in Taekwondo. Only holders of Kukkiwon-issued Dan and Poom certificates are eligible to participate in international competitions organized by World Taekwondo (olympic competition included).

Over the years, the Kukkiwon has renewed the design of its Dan and Poom certificates. In order to ensure the highest quality standards, surveys were conducted, the issuance system was reorganized, new color combinations were developed, different types of paper were researched, and various printing techniques were tested. A distinctive feature of the redesigned certificates is the clear graphical differentiation between rank levels, which are 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

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

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

The total number of Kukkiwon Dan and Poom certificates worldwide exceeds 12.3 million. Poom holders represent approximately 6.7 million certificates, while Dan holders account for approximately 5.6 million, reflecting the widespread growth of Taekwondo, particularly among younger generations.

The majority of certificate holders are South Korean citizens, accounting for 84% of Poom holders and 82% of Dan holders. The remaining certificates are distributed internationally, representing 16% of Poom holders and 18% of Dan holders. Among foreign countries (excluding South Korea), the largest numbers of certificate holders are found in the United States (25% of foreign certificates), followed by China (21%), Taipei, India, Canada, Vietnam, Australia, and Indonesia.

Distribution of Poom Ranks

Approximately half of all Poom certificates correspond to 1st Poom, followed by 2nd Poom, which represents more than 30% of the total. 3rd Poom accounts for around 14%, while 4th Poom represents approximately 6%.

Poom ranks are automatically converted into Dan ranks upon reaching the required age: 1st to 3rd Poom are converted at the age of 15, while 4th Poom is converted at the age of 17. Despite being introduced relatively recently in 1999, the number of 4th Poom holders has stabilized. More than 98% of 4th Poom holders are South Korean citizens.

Distribution of Dan Ranks

Among Dan ranks, 1st Dan is the most common rank among adult practitioners, representing approximately 74% of all Dan holders. When Poom ranks are also considered, 1st Dan is the most widespread rank in Taekwondo overall. Then 2nd Dan accounts for approximately 13% of Dan holders, while 3rd Dan represents around 8%. From 5th Dan onward, the number of holders decreases significantly, reaching only 1,587 holders of 9th Dan worldwide. The vast majority of 9th Dan holders are South Korean citizens (1,227).

Distribution of Dan and Poom Certificates by Country

The following table shows the number of Kukkiwon Dan and Poom certificates issued in selected countries with significant Taekwondo communities. Data are updated to July 2026. Certificates belonging to individuals registered under another country, even if they reside there, are excluded; this notably excludes many Korean masters living abroad.

Country	1st Poom	2nd Poom	3rd Poom	4th Poom	1st Dan	2nd Dan	3rd Dan	4th Dan	5th Dan	6th Dan	7th Dan	8th Dan	9th Dan
Australia	18,610	3,813	747	123	12,519	5,149	2,619	1,205	573	237	157	48	14
Canada	31,181	6,458	1,059	257	21,056	7,861	3,749	1,630	777	236	146	44	14
United Kingdom	6,485	1,538	211	41	6,864	2,915	1,478	672	339	133	46	17	3
United States	263,248	48,501	8,318	2,048	118,856	44,192	23,859	10,032	4,200	1,721	1,153	327	134

Honorary and Posthumous Dan Ranks

The Kukkiwon has the authority to award honorary Dan ranks, up to 10th Dan, to individuals who have made significant contributions to the development and promotion of Taekwondo, including people who are not practitioners of the martial art. The 10th Dan exists exclusively as an honorary distinction and does not require the completion of an examination.

The first honorary 10th Dan award was presented on 18 September 1986 to Juan Antonio Samaranch, then President of the International Olympic Committee. Since then, numerous internationally recognized figures have received honorary Dan ranks from the Kukkiwon.

Posthumous honorary 10th Dan awards have also been granted to individuals who made significant contributions to the development and global spread of Taekwondo, including Woon Kyu Uhm, second president of the Kukkiwon, and Chong Woo Lee, former president of World Taekwondo.

In agreement with the Kukkiwon, World Taekwondo has also awarded honorary 10th Dan ranks to prominent figures. These include Pope Francis, who received the distinction in May 2017, and Pope Leo XIV, who was awarded an honorary 10th Dan in June 2026 during the Taekwondo Grand Prix in Rome.

Recipients of honorary 9th Dan from the Kukkiwon include several presidents of the United States, such as Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. Similar recognitions have also been awarded to heads of state from countries including the Philippines, Uzbekistan, Peru, Turkey, and Nepal.

Events

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

Main article: World Taekwondo Championships

Kukkiwon World Taekwondo Hanmadang (World Taekwondo Hanmadang) first held in 1992.

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

External links

• Kukkiwon official website (in Korean)
• Kukkiwon official website Archived 2014-02-18 at the Wayback Machine (in English)
• Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (in Korean)
• Kukkiwon at Google Cultural Institute