Founder of Taekwon-Do
The founder of Taekwon-Do is Choe Hong Hui (November 9, 1918－June 15, 2002).
Born in Myongchon County (today’s Hwadae County) in North Hamgyong Province of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, he learned calligraphy and Thaekkyon, a traditional martial art of Korea, in his childhood.
After Japan’s defeat in August 1945, he studied martial arts with a dream of further developing the traditional martial art of the Korean nation, and founded Taekwon-Do in April 1955.
In March 1966, he founded the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), whose mission is to spread Taekwon-Do across the world and develop it, and became its first president. He also formed the Asian Taekwon-Do Federation in April 1968, the European Taekwon-Do Federation in June 1979, the Pan-American Taekwon-Do Federation in 1987, and the Oceanian Taekwon-Do Federation in 1994.
He organized the Asian Taekwon-Do championships in 1969 as the first international Taekwon-Do games, the Taekwon-Do world championships in 1974 and the junior Taekwon-Do world championships in 1993, thus providing an origin of international Taekwon-Do games and opening the way for their development.
In September 1999 he formed the International Martial Art Games Committee (IMGC) in Argentina with an aim to develop the world martial arts and achieve the unity of martial art practitioners, and became its first chairman.
In his lifetime he held Taekwon-Do demonstrations and short courses in over 80 countries and regions in the five continents of the world. He met state leaders of more than 20 countries and over 100 personages in the political, social, scientific and martial art circles to spread Taekwon-Do.
During his visit to the homeland on several occasions he met President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il . He was highly appreciated by Kim Il Sung that he had done a very good deed as he founded Taekwon-Do, a development of the traditional martial art of the Korean nation, and widely spread it to the world.
The ITF sponsored, in Pyongyang, the capital of the DPRK, the events to mark his birth anniversary and its founding and hold memorial services for his demise so as to hand down to posterity the indelible imprints he had left on the development course of orthodox Taekwon-Do.
The remains of Choe Hong Hui, who lives an eternal life, are buried at the Patriotic Martyrs Cemetery in Pyongyang.
Recollecting the life of Choe who made efforts to spread Taekwon-Do and promote the continuous development of the Taekwon-Do world championships, people are convinced that Taekwon-Do is a valuable asset of mankind for world peace and friendship and will be a sport enjoyed by all in the 21st century, too.
Yang Ryon Hui
More From Naenara (En)
There took place a short course for the participants in the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea in Pyongyang, the
March 01, 2026
There took place a short course for the participants in the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea in Pyongyang, the
A Pyongyang military-civilian meeting and a public procession took place with splendour at Kim Il Sung Square on February 27. The
March 01, 2026
A Pyongyang military-civilian meeting and a public procession took place with splendour at Kim Il Sung Square on February 27. The
A reception was given at the Mokran House on February 27 for the special guests who were invited to the celebrations of the Ninth
March 01, 2026
A reception was given at the Mokran House on February 27 for the special guests who were invited to the celebrations of the Ninth
The participants in the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea conducted various political and cultural activities. While
March 01, 2026
The participants in the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea conducted various political and cultural activities. While
The 39th Sci-tech Festival of Kim Il Sung University took place in the DPRK from February 25 to 27. Presented to the festival held
March 01, 2026
The 39th Sci-tech Festival of Kim Il Sung University took place in the DPRK from February 25 to 27. Presented to the festival held
Youth and students had a gala evening at Kim Il Sung Square on February 27. Among the spectators were Pak Thae Song, member of the
March 01, 2026
Youth and students had a gala evening at Kim Il Sung Square on February 27. Among the spectators were Pak Thae Song, member of the
The 2026 National Winter Games closed at the ice hockey gymnasium in the Paektusan area sports village in Samjiyon City, Ryanggang
March 01, 2026
The 2026 National Winter Games closed at the ice hockey gymnasium in the Paektusan area sports village in Samjiyon City, Ryanggang
At the beginning of the last century Japan militarily occupied Korea to impose an unprecedentedly harsh rule, forcing the Koreans
March 01, 2026
At the beginning of the last century Japan militarily occupied Korea to impose an unprecedentedly harsh rule, forcing the Koreans
Ryomyong Primary School in Taesong District, Pyongyang, is steadily improving the educational informatization. In a bid to make
February 28, 2026
Ryomyong Primary School in Taesong District, Pyongyang, is steadily improving the educational informatization. In a bid to make
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
February 28, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s
The Mindulle Notebook Factory is situated on the banks of the Pothong River in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK. The
February 28, 2026
The Mindulle Notebook Factory is situated on the banks of the Pothong River in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK. The
From olden times Korea has been called a land of golden tapestry for its beautiful mountains and limpid streams. The mountains and
February 28, 2026
From olden times Korea has been called a land of golden tapestry for its beautiful mountains and limpid streams. The mountains and
The Paektusan Millyong Hot Spring is located in the city of Samjiyon, Ryanggang Province in the northern part of the DPRK. In the
February 28, 2026
The Paektusan Millyong Hot Spring is located in the city of Samjiyon, Ryanggang Province in the northern part of the DPRK. In the
Receptions were given in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, on February 26 to commemorate the Ninth Congress of the
February 27, 2026
Receptions were given in Pyongyang, the capital city of the DPRK, on February 26 to commemorate the Ninth Congress of the
The Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in January 2021 set it as a core task in socialist construction to
February 27, 2026
The Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea held in January 2021 set it as a core task in socialist construction to
Days ago, the inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area celebrating the overfulfilment of the
February 27, 2026
Days ago, the inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area celebrating the overfulfilment of the
One day in November 2021, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Phothae-dong, Samjiyon City. The dwelling houses and
February 27, 2026
One day in November 2021, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Phothae-dong, Samjiyon City. The dwelling houses and
February 16 witnessed a splendid inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area in Pyongyang, the
February 27, 2026
February 16 witnessed a splendid inauguration ceremony of 10 000 flats at the fourth stage in the Hwasong area in Pyongyang, the
The Onpho Working People’s Holiday Camp opened in the DPRK.The holiday camp, located in a picturesque place, has hot spring therap
February 27, 2026
The Onpho Working People’s Holiday Camp opened in the DPRK.The holiday camp, located in a picturesque place, has hot spring therap
A grand artistic performance was given at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on February 26 to commemorate the Ninth Congress of the
February 27, 2026
A grand artistic performance was given at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on February 26 to commemorate the Ninth Congress of the
More Articles
