Madame Choi Refutes False Claims by North Korean ITF Group President Ri Yong Sun
Jesolo, Italy — During the recent North Korean ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships held in Jesolo, Italy, North Korean ITF Group President Ri Yong Sun announced during their General Assembly that Madame Choi, the widow of General Choi Hong Hi, Founder of Taekwon-Do, had sent greetings and a congratulatory message to their event.
Jesolo, Italy — During the recent North Korean ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships held in Jesolo, Italy, North Korean ITF Group President Ri Yong Sun announced during their General Assembly that Madame Choi, the widow of General Choi Hong Hi, Founder of Taekwon-Do, had sent greetings and a congratulatory message to their event.
Ri further claimed that he “frequently communicates and talks with her.”
The North Korean ITF group, led by Ri Yong Sun, represents one of several Taekwon-Do bodies that claim direct succession from General Choi Hong Hi’s original International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF).
However, legitimacy in Taekwon-Do is not determined by geography or politics, but by authentic lineage, continuity, and adherence to the Founder’s principles.
To confirm the accuracy of Ri’s statements, MASTKD personally communicated with Madame Choi by phone. Her response was clear, firm, and unequivocal:
“I am not even aware of such a competition, and I have had no contact whatsoever with Ri Yong Sun or any members of the North Korean ITF group for a very long time.”
Expressing her shock and disappointment, Madame Choi added:
“I am absolutely appalled by their audacity to change the name of the Tong-il pattern on their own. Such an act completely contradicts my late husband’s lifelong dream of Korea’s unification and represents an impudent misuse of Taekwon-Do for political purposes.”
As the widow of the Founder and the sole living custodian of his personal legacy, Madame Choi’s words represent the authentic continuation of General Choi Hong Hi’s vision.
Her stance reaffirms that Taekwon-Do was created as a discipline to promote peace, respect, and unity — not to serve political narratives or divisions.
MASTKD emphasizes that Madame Choi has never communicated with North Korean ITF Group President Ri Yong Sun or any representative of his organization. Any claims or public statements suggesting otherwise are false, misleading, and entirely unfounded.
As a neutral and independent global media organization, MASTKD upholds the principles of factual reporting and transparency within the international Taekwon-Do community.
Our direct communication with credible sources, including members of the Choi family, ensures that the historical integrity of Taekwon-Do remains accurately represented to practitioners worldwide.
MASTKD calls upon all organizations and individuals to ensure that any statements attributed to the Choi family are authentic, verifiable, and made with integrity.
The legacy of General Choi Hong Hi, the Founder of Taekwon-Do, must remain rooted in truth, unity, and respect, never manipulated for political or ideological purposes.
MASTKD will continue to safeguard the truth of Taekwon-Do’s history, ensuring that the art’s global community remains informed, united, and faithful to the Founder’s philosophy:
“Taekwon-Do is not a tool of politics, but a way of life built on respect, discipline, and the pursuit of peace.”
MAS: Media About Sport.
TKD: Taekwon-Do.
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