Woosuk University President’s Cup draws 3,692 athletes in Korea

The 24th Woosuk University President’s Cup National Taekwondo Championships concluded in Jeonju after bringing together 3,692 athletes from across South Korea.

Held from July 15 to 23 at the Woosuk University gymnasium, the tournament featured 1,610 poomsae competitors, 1,214 athletes in breaking and another 868 in sparring.

The scale of the event and its multidisciplinary program confirmed its relevance within Korea’s national calendar, particularly as a competitive platform for young athletes.

National champions crowned in three disciplines

Woosuk University President’s Cup draws 3,692 athletes in Korea

Poomsae competition included recognized and freestyle divisions across individual, pair and team events.

Kim Seong-ju of Chowol High School and Park Myeong-hyeon of Cheonan Oseong High School won the male and female third-year high school recognized poomsae titles.

In the university and senior freestyle individual divisions, Kang Tae-jun of Korea Nazarene University and Lee Go-eun of YJY Taekwondo claimed the respective championships.

Breaking competition included vertical-axis rotational, horizontal-axis rotational, aerial and overall breaking events. Muhon Taekwondo finished as the overall champion in the discipline.

Sparring was contested through weight-category tournaments for male and female high school athletes. Pungsaeng High School captured the overall men’s title, while Sinmok High School topped the women’s standings.

Ha Ji-ung of Buheung High School and Choi Seon-yeong of Uncheon High School received the Most Valuable Athlete awards. Coaches Kim Ju-yeon of Pungsaeng High School and Lee Kang-cheol of Sinmok High School were recognized as the tournament’s outstanding coaches.

Developing Korea’s next generation

The opening ceremony, held on July 16, brought together representatives from several Korean Taekwondo institutions and included a creative performance by Woosuk University’s demonstration and poomsae teams.

Woosuk University President Park No-jun said he hoped the competition had allowed athletes to display their abilities and take another step forward in their development.

“We will continue supporting the development of Taekwondo talent and the advancement of Taekwondo in Korea,” Park stated.

With participation across three major competitive disciplines, the President’s Cup once again demonstrated the depth of Korea’s domestic Taekwondo structure and the importance of national tournaments in developing its next generation.