The host nation increased its championship total to nine titles after another commanding performance at the World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships. Great Britain, Chinese Taipei, Mongolia and Spain also reached the top of the podium on day two.

Korea claims four titles as competition begins at Chuncheon 2026

After claiming four titles on the opening day, the host nation added five more to raise its total to nine gold medals over the first two days of competition.

The championship, which opened with a record 1,411 athletes, will continue through September 20 at the Songam Sportstown Air Dome.

Korea delivers across five divisions

Dongjun Lee secured Korea’s first title of the day in the Male Under 30 category after defeating Thailand’s Navin Pinthasute in the final. Sung Hyun Eric Gun of the United States and Joel van der Weide of the Netherlands shared the bronze medals.

Yeon Bu Kim, also known within the sport for her work as a Poomsae referee, captured gold in the Female Under 60 division. She overcame Spain’s Soo Mi Jo Lee in the final, while Marina Garcia Belaunde Velarde of Peru and Tatiana Parfenenko of Russia earned bronze.

Record-breaking Chuncheon 2026 World Poomsae Championships officially open

The Korean trio of Ho Yong Ji, Kwang Ho Park and Woo Young Shin prevailed in the Male Team Under 50 event, finishing ahead of Chinese Taipei’s Wei Chieh Chang, Tien Cheng Tsai and Chun Kai Chuang. France and Vietnam completed the podium.

Han Sol Jang delivered Korea’s fourth gold medal in the Female Over 17 category by defeating China’s Sitong Lin. Italy’s Valentina Arlotti and Canada’s Rachel Lee secured bronze.

Hae Sung Lee and Bia Shin completed the host nation’s five-title performance with victory in the Pair Under 17 event. The Korean duo defeated China’s Yimeng Lei and Xinyu Huang, while Mexico and the United States took bronze.

Four nations break Korea’s winning run

Great Britain, Chinese Taipei, Mongolia and Spain prevented Korea from completing a clean sweep of the day’s titles.

Ali Pourtaheri claimed the Male Over 65 crown for Great Britain after defeating Denmark’s Jorn Andersen. Korea’s Byoung Young Lim and France’s Michel Carron shared third place.

Chinese Taipei’s Ting Jung Chang won the Female Under 40 title, ahead of Vietnam’s Tuyet Van Chau. Lai Lee Kong of Hong Kong, China, and Thanh-Van Huynh of the United States earned bronze.

Chang’s achievement carried additional significance. She is also a World Taekwondo Standing International Referee and officiated at both the Wuxi 2025 World Taekwondo Championships and the Taiyuan 2026 World Taekwondo Women’s Open Championships.

Mongolia celebrated gold in the Pair Cadet division through Enkh-Erdene Otgonbayar and Shine-Erdene Tserendejid. Thailand’s Thasang Kelddang and Jiranut Benzipa finished second, with the United States and Chinese Taipei taking bronze.

Spain closed the day with an important victory in the Male Team Under 60 event. Antonio Moreno Rodriguez, Jose Maria Prieto Estrada and Joaquin Heredia Pino defeated Korea’s Ki Yeong Kwon, Sung Hoi Kim and Cheol Hee Lee in the final. Chinese Taipei and the United States completed the podium.

The Chuncheon 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships continue until September 20, with Korea firmly established at the top after winning nine titles during the opening two days.

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