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Taekwondo, taking Hallyu farther
As Hallyu continues to introduce modern and traditional Korean culture
to new audiences, the traditional martial art of taekwondo is enjoying
growing visibility and popularity across the world.
The sixth annual World Taekwondo Culture Expo opened on July 6 in Muju
County, Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla Province), where the taekwondo
discipline is said to have been practiced and taught by martial artists
and soldiers as far back as Korea’s Three Kingdoms period (57 to 668
AD).
Sponsored by Muju County, Jeollabuk-do, the Korea Taekwondo Association,
and the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation, this year’s Expo was attended
by over 960 athletes from 24 countries.
The sixth annual World Taekwondo Culture Expo kicked off on July 6 in
Muju County, Jeollabuk-do gathering over 960 athletes from 24 countries
(photo: Yonhap News).
During the Expo’s five-day run, participants had the opportunity to
brush up on taekwondo theory and techniques and take part in poomsae
(forms), kyukpa (breaking), and kyorugi (sparring) demonstrations. Other
activities included visits to the scenic Muju Gucheondong Valley, the
construction site for Taekwondowon, and a traditional culture center.
"We hope to develop Muju into a symbolic destination with a variety of
special programs for taekwondo lovers,” said Yoon Myeong-chae, director
of operations for Taekwondowon.
A week earlier, taekwondo received the spotlight during a cultural
festival in Bangkok, Thailand, held from June 30 to July 1 ahead of the
coming 2012 London Summer Olympics. A special performance of taekwondo
entitled “TAL,” put on by the Korea Taekwondo Association, was the
highlight of the two-day event.
With a dramatic storyline, heightened artistic effects, and a finale set
to Thai pop songs, “TAL” proved to be an entertaining performance for
the festival audience. It was also attended by Choi Yeong-seok, the head
coach for the Thai national taekwondo team, together with three Thai
national team athletes.
Also last month, taekwondo made an appearance in Washington, D.C., where
more than 120 sixth-graders at Alice Deal Middle School were paired
with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea through the Embassy Adoption
Program (EAP), designed to encourage students to experience the culture
of another country firsthand.
Taekwondo demonstrations were held as part of the six-month program,
which also included group visits to the embassy as well as visits by
staff from the embassy’s Korean Cultural Center for taekwondo workshops.
“Students who are often quiet in the classroom came out of their shells,
and students who don’t excel academically were able to shine in a way I
have never seen before,“ said Harlan Kinzer, a teacher at Alice Deal,
who spoke with the embassy regarding her impressions of the taekwondo
workshops.
“[The students came] to understand that taekwondo [is] about strength,
commitment, discipline, and dedication to one’s self, community, and
academics,” continued Hinzer. “Students wanted to achieve high levels of
commitment to their school and community.”
Sourced from Korea.net |
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