World Taekwondo confirmed that the third edition of the World Taekwondo Virtual Championships will take place in June 2027 at Taekwondowon, strengthening Muju’s role in the international development of the sport.

The agreement was signed on September 5 at the TPF Operation Center in Muju by World Taekwondo President Dr. Chungwon Choue, KTA President and WT Vice-President Jin-bang Yang, and TPF Chairman Prof. Jung-heon Kim.

The championships are scheduled for June 2027 and will represent the third edition of the global competition, following the inaugural event held in Singapore in 2024. World Taekwondo also confirmed that different possibilities remain under consideration for the second edition, planned for later in 2026.

A new stage for Virtual Taekwondo

Virtual Taekwondo combines athletes’ physical movements with virtual reality and motion-tracking technology, reproducing their actions inside a digital competition environment in real time.

The discipline gained international exposure at Olympic Esports Week Singapore 2023 and has since become an important part of World Taekwondo’s digital transformation strategy.

Its development will reach another milestone on October 2, 2026, when Virtual Taekwondo makes its debut as an official medal event at the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Sixteen athletes representing 15 National Olympic Committees will compete in a single-elimination tournament.

It will be the discipline’s first appearance as a medal event at a major multi-sport competition.

World Taekwondo targets further international expansion

“Virtual Taekwondo represents an exciting evolution of our sport, combining the physical skills and values of Taekwondo with digital innovation,” Dr. Choue said.

World Taekwondo intends to expand the discipline’s presence across the international sports system and is working toward its possible inclusion as a medal event at the European Games Istanbul 2027 and the World University Games.

Hosting the 2027 World Championships at Taekwondowon will reinforce Muju’s position as a global center for Taekwondo while providing a new platform for the continued evolution of the virtual discipline.

Source: World Taekwondo

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