Lee Dong-sup concluded his four-year term as Kukkiwon President highlighting global expansion and reform

Seoul, South Korea — Grand Master Lee Dong-sup concluded his four-year tenure as President of Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters, marking the end of a period defined by international expansion, institutional reform, and the promotion of Practical Taekwondo, according to World Taekwondo United (WTU).

Four years of transformation and global diplomacy

Since taking office in 2021, Lee had led an ambitious internationalization plan that repositioned Kukkiwon as a modern global martial arts institution.
Among his main accomplishments, he highlighted the establishment of 155 overseas branch offices and the renovation of Kukkiwon’s main facility, which had remained largely unchanged for more than five decades.

Speaking with WTU, Lee said, “When I first took office, there wasn’t a single branch abroad. Today, Kukkiwon is officially present in 155 countries.”
He added that promoting Practical Taekwondo, Practical Self-Defense, and Practical Poomsae “helped strengthen the identity of Taekwondo as a true martial art.”

Institutional management and pending reforms

During his administration, Kukkiwon secured over 10 billion KRW for facility modernization, supported by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Gangnam District Office.
The upgrades included new air-conditioning systems, landscaping, monuments, escalators, and expanded walkways — transforming the headquarters into “a facility worthy of representing world Taekwondo,” as Lee described to WTU.

However, he acknowledged that structural reform remains an essential challenge for Kukkiwon’s future.
“The organization must shift from a board-centered system to a president-led model,” he said. “It also needs independence from government control to operate as a global, autonomous foundation.”

The vision of Practical Taekwondo

One of the cornerstones of Lee’s administration was the promotion of Practical Taekwondo, emphasizing applicability in real-life situations.
“When I visited Morocco,” Lee recalled, “a master told me that many students were switching to kickboxing because Taekwondo lacked practicality. Even in the United States, a police chief said they trained in Jiu-Jitsu, not Taekwondo. That must change.”
To address this, Lee developed programs centered on functional sparring, applied self-defense, and realistic poomsae, aiming to modernize Taekwondo and restore its martial value.

A call for unity

As he handed over the presidency to Yoon Woong-seok, Lee called for unity within the Taekwondo community.
“There will always be groups trying to destabilize leadership for personal gain,” he stated, “but the global Taekwondo family must support its president to keep Kukkiwon on the right path.”

A legacy and a new project

Although most of his goals were achieved, Lee admitted that one major objective remains: building a second Kukkiwon.
The current headquarters, constructed in 1970, will be preserved as a cultural heritage site, while plans are underway to establish a new, modern complex.
“The future lies in a Smart Kukkiwon — a digital, AI-driven institution that reflects the next era of Taekwondo,” he said, adding that he intends to dedicate his post-retirement efforts to that project.

Source: Exclusive interview by World Taekwondo United (WTU), published on October 13, 2025.
Photo & Video Credits: WTU News / Heidari Hanna.

MASTKD: Media About Sports Taekwondo. Worldwide Leader on Taekwondo Information.