USTF Secretary General, Chun Jae Park

'2008 World Taekwondo Hanmadang' which will be hosted by USTF (President Sang Chul Lee) is stirring up a bit of controversy and debate in the United States. On the 14th, MOOKAS featured an article 'Warns to boycott Hanmadang' led by Master Kang Il Lee. Soon after the article was featured, more and more voices of opposing having Hanmadang in the US are rising.

However, masters who are for hosting the Hanmadang in the United States also raised their voices. USTF's Secretary General, Chun Jae Park sent MOOKAS his response to all those opposing the event in the US. MOOKAS will now bring you his view.


USTF Secretary General, Chun Jae Park
The essence of Taekwondo is its culture and spirit. Training for Taekwondo never ends. Director Woon Kyu Um said it best when he said "Taekwondo Hanmadang is a celebration to bring the world together and becoming one through Taekwondo." This is what Kukkiwon have been supporting and the true meaning of Hanmadang. This event gives an opportunity for even athletes who are less than 10 years of age or elite athletes in their twenties to take pride in their nations and bring honor to their country by competing and bringing home a medal.

Taekwondo Hanmadang is for all ages and a venue for families to gather in one place to enjoy the culture of Taekwondo. Taekwondo Hanmadang is an event to educate our athletes the spirit of Taekwondo. There are few important factors in hosting Hanmadang in the United States.

First, Taekwondo Hanmadang can reverse current state of Taekwondo as a competition sport. 5% of Taekwondo practitioners compete in Taekwondo competitions. And the worst part of it is that these athletes are so focused on competition before even learning what Taekwondo really is that they tend to quit after being discouraged at competitions. On the contrary, Hanmadang does not focus on the opponent but the skill of the athletes themselves and hence bring out their Taekwondo spirit by competing with their inner self. For this reason, schools that attend Hanmadang can benefit its students.

Second, Hanmadang consists of venues that are practiced at schools (dojangs). It does not only focus on sparring but it stresses Poomse, Kyukpa, Ho Shin Sul, and individual and group Poomse. Since these are practiced at schools on a regular base, if they prepare for it just a bit, anybody can participate in Hanmadang.

Third, by hosting Hanmadang in the United States will reinstate the importance of Kukkiwon which is the symbol of Taekwondo's birthplace, Korea. United States consists of many different martial arts. Kukkiwon is one of those and there are many people that need education in what Kukkiwon does for Taekwondo. Kukkiwon is the world's Taekwondo headquarters that issue dan certificates, provides education for masters, and who holds the future of Taekwondo. Therefore, this will be a great opportunity to reintroduce Taekwondo to the world and especially in the United States.

Fourth, if Kukkiwon's importance is raised through hosting Hanmadang in the US, Taekwondo masters' position that are active in outside of Korea can be raised as well. There are many masters who are being criticized by other Korean masters. This will give an opportunity for masters who follow Kukkiwon's guidelines to justify themselves.

Fifth, we learn a lot from our history. In 1977, the 3rd World Taekwondo Championships was held in Chicago. It was a first championship held in the foreign land and there were many mishaps and lack of preparation. Many people said the championship was a failure. To think back, they may be correct in saying that event was a failure. However, through that championship, it was a resource to teach the general public what Taekwondo is. Since Kukkiwon is allowing Hanmadang to be held in a foreign country for the first time, this event has to be a success and the mistakes what were made in the past will be not made this time around. Marketing is the key to Hanmadang's success in the US. Instead of waiting for people to come, it needs to go to the people to spread the culture and the spirit of Taekwondo.

Sixth, Hanmadang needs to fully utilize its location to attract participants. 2008 Hanmadang will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center. This location is known worldwide and it has all the amenities for tourism. Also nearby is Disneyland which is a top tourist attraction. So for people who will be traveling from other nations can enjoy other things besides Hanmadang.