World Taekwondo holds historic Council Workshop in Fujairah
FUJAIRAH,UAE – World Taekwondo successfully held the first Council Workshop in its history on February 1-2 in Fujairah, marking a significant milestone for the Federation under its new mandate.
FUJAIRAH,UAE – World Taekwondo successfully held the first Council Workshop in its history on February 1-2 in Fujairah, marking a significant milestone for the Federation under its new mandate.
Following the inaugural meeting of World Taekwondo’s new Council on January 31, where Continental Unions presented their regional plans to strengthen and develop Member National Associations (MNAs), the workshop enabled detailed and productive discussions on World Taekwondo’s vision, governance, and operations, under the theme “Reborn Together”.
In his opening remarks, World Taekwondo President Dr. Chungwon Choue reflected on the Federation’s key achievements over the past 20 years, highlighting its transformation through reform, unity, and teamwork. He emphasized that World Taekwondo’s success has been built on harmony, shared sacrifices, and strong family ties among its members, reaffirming its position as one of the world’s most respected international sports federations.
The first morning session featured an in-depth overview delivered by Secretary General Jeongkang Seo, who outlined World Taekwondo’s history and growth – from 17 MNAs in 1973 to 215 MNAs plus one Refugee Team in 2026, making it the third-largest International Federation globally. He also presented key developments in governance, including the restructuring of the World Taekwondo Council from 37 to 25 members and progress in gender equality with 32% female representation on the Council, reflecting World Taekwondo’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity and good governance.
The session further covered World Taekwondo’s global operations, including development funding for Continental Unions and MNAs, equipment and participation support programs, scholarships, and its extensive Sport for Social Development initiatives. These include close partnerships with the UNHCR and the Olympic Refugee Foundation, as well as humanitarian programs such as Taekwondo Cares alongside the work of the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation, environmental sustainability initiatives recognized by the IOC, and athlete health and well-being programs, including mental health support at major events.
Additional presentations were delivered by Deputy Secretary General of Planning and Finance and the President’s Office, Jerry Ling, who presented the 2026 budget, financial regulations, and governance frameworks aligned with the IOC’s Fit for the Future and ASOIF governance reviews, and by Head of the Global Integrity Unit, Corbin Min, who outlined the roles and responsibilities of Council Members.
In the afternoon on February 1, the workshop continued with strategic presentations from three Vice Presidents:
Fardouza Moussa Egueh outlined World Taekwondo’s long-term vision through five key pillars focused on strengthening gender equality in governance, developing women officials, supporting athletes’ career transitions, expanding youth participation – particularly among girls – and maximizing social impact through Taekwondo Cares initiatives.
Driss El-Hilali highlighted how sport development can be enhanced through inclusive and balanced competition structures, encouraging greater participation from emerging nations.
Jinbang Yang presented World Taekwondo’s digital transformation strategy, highlighting AI as a key driver of the sport’s future, with a particular focus on the unification of AI-based Smart PSS to enhance fairness, accuracy, and spectator engagement.
These sessions focused on priority areas expected to have a profound impact on the future of World Taekwondo.
World Taekwondo Council Members then engaged in active discussions, contributing ideas and perspectives for the Federation’s next four-year cycle.
The workshop concluded with strong engagement from the World Taekwondo Council Members, who proposed a wide range of forward-looking ideas aimed at strengthening World Taekwondo’s leadership, advance gender equality, sustainability, and global impact. Building on this momentum, the Council also agreed to hold a dedicated brainstorming session during the upcoming Council meeting in April in Tashkent.
President Choue reflected on the success of the Council Workshop.
“It has been an eventful two days of meetings,” he said.
“I feel confident that this Council is ready to contribute and deliver good results.
“The Technical Commission is looking into enhancing our competitions. One of the instructions that I have given to them is to look into increasing the number of Olympic weight categories to six, and also to promote mixed team events.”
With the successful staging of this historic Council Workshop, World Taekwondo took a decisive step toward shaping its future, moving forward together, united in purpose, and truly “Reborn Together”.
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