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Traveling Seoul with Taekwondo, Korea’s Gift to the World

Published Date : Jul 29, 2022 / Edited Date : Jun 21, 2023
Traveling Seoul with Taekwondo, Korea’s Gift to the World

Taekwondo is taking the world by storm. The Kukkiwon Taekwondo Demonstration Team surprised many when the team won 2nd place in America’s audition program, The World’s Best, in 2019, and when Korea’s World Taekwondo Demonstration Team also received media’s attention when the team got the golden buzzer on America’s Got Talent last year. Interest in taekwondo goes beyond the sphere of martial arts and is expanding to K-entertainment as well. Perhaps the next big thing among the hallyu trend, following K-pop, K-drama, and K-beauty, would be taekwondo.

Meanwhile, professional-level taekwondo performances are held at major tourist attractions in Seoul, including the Blue House and Gwanghwamun Square. If you’d like to find out more about the history and spirit of taekwondo in detail before visiting those places, we recommend you visit the Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters. If you’d like to actually experience taekwondo in person, you can also visit one of the number of taekwondo schools located across the country. Let’s begin the trip to Seoul with taekwondo.

Kukkiwon, the Beginning of Hallyu in Taekwondo

Korea’s national sport, taekwondo, is a martial art form that trains students to use attack and defense skills with their bare hands. In particular, it's an art form with a specialized series of kicks that deliver a blow to the target for the purpose of self-defense. The basic spirit of taekwondo is respecting peace and fairness while prioritizing defense over attack. Based on Korea’s appreciation for the arts and culture of exuberance, taekwondo is a martial art that features competitive play. And it is the Kukkiwon that is making efforts to further develop taekwondo and introduce it to the world.

Unlike any other area in Gangnam, Seoul, taekwondo’s place of origin, as well as the World Taekwondo Headquarters, Kukkiwon, is located among a quiet forest path and park. The design of the main building of the Kukkiwon captures the feel of atraditional hanok while also conjuring up imagery of the swift movements of taekwondo. This architecture itself leaves the strong impression that it is the main building of the Korean traditional martial artistry. The Kukkiwon Memorial Hall is next to the main building and is used as house the Taekwondo History Museum. Many souvenirs and materials related to taekwondo are exhibited in the Kukkiwon Memorial Hall, making it easier for visitors to understand the art form. The memorial hall is open only on weekdays, and more information can be found on the official Kukkiwon website.

For the globalization of taekwondo, the Kukkiwon established the Taekwondo Demonstration Team and has been at the forefront of promoting taekwondo all around the world since 1974. Currently, taekwondo instructors are cultivated in Korea and around the world through the World Taekwondo Academy. The Research Institute of Taekwondo, run by the Kukkiwon, also dedicates itself to laying a stronger foundation for the advancement of the martial art.
Next to the Kukkiwon, is Yeoksam Park, which provides several cozy and serene rest areas, making it a sweet spot for visitors to enjoy a little bit of slow time for themselves. With that noted, the Kukkiwon is yet another landmark of Seoul you'll want to explore - not only to learn more about the culture and history of taekwondo, but also perhaps to get in a nice walk in the surrounding grounds of the park, a location boasting a beautiful landscape across all four seasons.

  • Address 32, Teheran-ro 7-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
  • Tel +82-2-567-1058
  • Website See more

Special Taekwondo Performances at the Beautiful Cheong Wa Dae

The Cheong Wa Dae, a.k.a. the Blue House, which was used as the presidential office and residence, was fully opened to the public in May, and people are continuing to visit the Cheong Wa Dae as it has become an emerging, new tourist attraction. This summer the traditional yet dignified presence of the Cheong Wa Dae will be the grounds of a featured special performance from the Kukkiwon’s Taekwondo Demonstration Team, with the backdrop of the gorgeous Bugaksan Mountain.

Kukkiwon Taekwondo Demonstration Team is a highly-skilled group that proudly placed 2nd at The World’s Best in 2019. With the background of the beautiful main building of the Cheong Wa Dae, the demonstration team appears with their black belts. Starting off with a poomsae (form) demonstration in a controlled manner with a swift, powerful shout called kihapsori, a series of stunning performances follow one after the other, including board breaking, power breaking, advanced spinning kicks, and demonstrations of self-defense skills that reflect actual situations, which heighten the audience’s interest.

The regular taekwondo demonstration performance at the Cheong Wa Dae takes place for thirty minutes every weekend from 5 pm to 5:30 pm, at the grand garden in front of the main office building. Further information regarding the performance schedule and reservations, can be found on the Cheong Wa Dae website. Please note that there will be no performance on August 13 and 14, and performances may be canceled on account of inclement weather.

Let’s not miss the chance to see Korea’s representative Taekwondo Demonstration Team performance at the Cheong Wa Dae. The special performance presented by this non-governmental diplomatic mission that plays an active role on the global stage is sure to leave an impression.

  • Address 1, Cheongwadae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
  • Schedule Every weekend from 17:00 - 17:30 (From July 16 to August 28)
  • Website See more

Gwanghwamun Square Gets Revived as a "Town Square"

Town squares are places where people meet up. They’re places where people come and gather freely to talk to one another in leisure. Gwanghwamun Square, which is one of the most well-known town squares in Seoul and where people have gathered and vividly experienced Seoul’s history and culture, is set to be reborn as a new space on August 6.

The most noticeable change with the new Gwanghwamun Square will be the size itself. It will be twice as big as the previous land area, with a quarter of the square being dedicated to natural greenery. The square has become a downtown park where people can come to relax and take a break with the various newly-created waterscape spaces, such as Yeoksa Mulgil (Waterways of History) and Tunnel Bunsu (Tunnel Fountain). In addition, the square will serve as the space that preserves and revives the history and culture of the previous Gwanghwamun Square by exhibiting cultural heritage, such as the Saheonbu Munteo (Saheonbu Gate). On the wall of the Grand Theater at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and the external wall of the KT Building, a media façade is built to provide media art of various planned exhibitions of cultural art, including content having to do with Korea’s traditional martial art form, taekwondo, and more. With these changes, visitors at Gwanghwamun Square will be able to enjoy a traditional Korean garden at Sagye Jungwon (Garden of Four Seasons) and a beautiful night with various content on the walls.

The ongoing Kukkiwon Demonstration Team’s performance at the Cheong Wa Dae will end on August 28. Afterward, the team will continue to perform at Gwanghwamun Square from September. Various entertainment events are planned at the new Gwanghwamun Square along with the taekwondo performances there.

On September 2, a special performance celebrating International Taekwondo Day (September 4th) will be held as well. Taejoo Na, a trot singer well-known for his taekwondo performance, and Daehoon Lee, former taekwondo athlete and Olympic medalist, will be the MCs of the event. During the event, Kukkiwon and the K-Tigers will showcase a splendid taekwondo performance, and LACHICA, the dance team that became very popular through the show, Street Woman Fighter, will show a dance performance using taekwondo moves.

With Gwanghwamun Square returning, bigger and more welcoming than ever, visitors will have a chance to enjoy new things to watch while better appreciating the history and culture of Korea.

  • Address 175, Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Kang’s Global Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a martial art in which the ultimate goal is spiritual cultivation through the strengthening and training of the physical body. Most Koreans tend to learn taekwondo when they are young at taekwondo schools, where they get physical training, learn basic social etiquette, and discover how to be keep a peaceful mental state. If you are left with the feeling of wanting more after watching a taekwondo demonstration at the Cheong Wa Dae or Gwanghwamun Square, how about actually getting a taekwondo lesson?

Kang’s Global Taekwondo, located in Jongam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, is where you can get lessons from a Kukkiwon master himself. Through systematic classes, even those who are trying taekwondo for the very first time can experience the art form without any difficulty. Moreover, Kang’s Global Taekwondo is a taekwondo academy officially designated as the Taekwondo Experience Program for Foreigners by the Seoul Tourism Organization, so there are established programs offered specially for foreigners.

There are one-day classes available along with regular classes, and the one-day class costs around 20,000 won. The taekwondo classes for foreigners are subject to changes depending on the date, so please make sure to inquire with the school for details first. Come learn taekwondo at Kang’s Global Taekwondo, where students of various ages and nationalities are working hard to acquire the spirit of taekwondo together as we speak. In fact, going through the real experience is the best way to fully enjoy Korean culture.

  • Address 3F, 7, Jongam-ro 19-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
  • Operation Hours Daily 10:00 to 23:00
  • Instagram @shindong_kang

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※ This article is dated July 2022. Business operations and business hours may change according to government quarantine guidelines. Please check before visiting.

Tags

#Hallyu #Kukkiwon #Blue House #Kang’s Global Taekwondo #Gwanghwamun Square #Kukkiwon # Taekwondo

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  • 기상특보(폭염, 태풍, 호우, 미세먼지 등)로 인해 도보관광 운영이 어려운 경우 모든 예약은 일괄 취소됩니다.(발효 즉시 취소처리)
    ※예약 당일 기상특보를 상시 확인 바랍니다.
예약 전 안내사항
  • 예약은 관광일 기준 최소 1주일 전까지 가능합니다.
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    ※ 중증(1~3급) 동반인 포함 2명 무료
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  • 예약확인을 위해 도보관광 사무국(02-6925-0777)에서 확인 연락이 진행됩니다.
    (최소 5일~한달 전)3회 이상 전화통화가 이뤄지지 않을 시 예약이 취소될 수 있습니다.
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    ※예약 당일 기상특보를 상시 확인 바랍니다.
예약 전 안내사항
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      ※歩行弱者1人当たり少なくとも1人以上の補助人を伴う
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  • ご希望の日付及びコースに活動可能な解説士がいない場合、予約はキャンセルされることがあります。
  • 予約を確認するため、徒歩観光事務局(02-6925-0777)で確認のための連絡が行われます。
    (少なくとも5日~1ヶ月前)3回以上電話が通じない場合、予約が取り消されることがあります。
  • 解説を進行する時に発生する安全事故に対し、徒歩観光事務局とソウル文化観光解説士は
    責任を負いません。
  • 気象特報(猛暑、台風、豪雨、PM2.5)によりウォーキングツアーの運営が難しいと判断された場合、全ての予約は中止とさせて頂きます。(発効後直ちにキャンセルを行う)
    ※ 下記のリンクにてご予約当日の気象特報をご確認ください。
    (https://www.accuweather.com/ja/kr/seoul/226081/weather-forecast/226081)
预约前说明事项
  • 观光日基准最少3日前方可进行预约。
  • 最多可申请10人。
    (※ 景福宫, 昌德宫, 昌庆宫是例外 最多可申请20人)
  • 在已登记的预约团体中,只接待不超过预约人数的团体,可在前一天17时前追加预约。
  • 下个月的预约可从前一月15日开始。
  • 如有发热或呼吸道症状(发烧、咳嗽、痰液、肌肉痛、鼻塞、咽喉痛等),请避免参与解说活动。
  • 无保护者随同的未满14岁儿童游客,会在现场取消解说活动。
  • 气象特报(酷暑、台风、暴雨 、雾霾 等)导致徒步观光项目暂停时,所有预约将一律被取消。(发布紧急措施时立即取消)
    ※ 请在以下网站上随时确认预约当天的气象特报。
    (https://www.accuweather.com/zh/kr/seoul/226081/weather-forecast/226081)
  • 对于解说活动中发生的安全事故,首尔徒步解说旅游事务局和首尔文化观光解说社不予负责。
预约前说明事项
  • 观光日基准最少1日前方可进行预约。
  • 本线路是为了行动不便者(行动不便的高龄者、残疾人、婴儿车利用者等)的路线。
  • 无辅助人员(或同行人)伴随时,不可利用。
    ※ 步行不便者1名至少需要1名以上的辅助人员陪同。
    ※ 电动辅助器具(电动轮椅、电动独轮车等)使用者时,每一位辅助人员最多可陪同 4名步行不便者。
  • 希望观光的日期及线路上无解说员时,预约有可能被取消。
  • 为了确认预约,徒步观光事务局(02-6925-0777)会致电进行确认。
    (最少5日~一个月前) 3次以上无法连接时,预约将被取消。
  • 进行解说时,对于有可能发生的安全事故,徒步观光事务局和首尔文化观光解说员概不负责。
  • 气象特报(酷暑、台风、暴雨 、雾霾 等)导致徒步观光项目暂停时,所有预约将一律被取消。(发布紧急措施时立即取消)
    ※ 请在以下网站上随时确认预约当天的气象特报。
    (https://www.accuweather.com/zh/kr/seoul/226081/weather-forecast/226081)
預約前說明事項
  • 最晚請於預約日期3天前完成預約。
  • 最多可申請10人。
    (※ 景福宮, 昌德宮, 昌慶宮是例外 最多可申請20人)
  • 已完成預約的團體若人數超過限制,可於前一天下午5點前追加預約。
  • 每月15日將開放下個月的預約。
  • 若有發燒或呼吸道症狀(發燒、咳嗽、咳痰、肌肉酸痛、鼻塞、喉嚨痛),請避免參與本活動。
  • 未有保護者同行的未滿14歲兒童遊客,會在現場取消參與資格。
  • 氣象特報(酷暑、颱風、暴雨 、霧霾 等)而導致徒步觀光無法進行時,將一律取消所有預約。(發布限令時將立即取消)
    ※ 請在以下網站上隨時確認預約當天的氣象特報。
    (https://www.accuweather.com/zh/kr/seoul/226081/weather-forecast/226081)
  • 進行解說時,對於有可能發生的安全事故,首爾徒步解說觀光事務局和首爾文化觀光解說員概不負責。
預約前說明事項
  • 觀光日基準最少1日前方可進行預約。
  • 本線路是為了行動不便者(行動不便的高齡者、殘疾人、嬰兒車利用者等)的路線。
  • 無輔助人員(或同行人)伴隨時,不可利用。
    ※ 步行不便者1名至少需要1名以上的輔助人員陪同。
    ※ 電動輔助器具(電動輪椅、電動獨輪車等)使用者時,每壹位輔助人員最多可陪同 4名步行不便者。
  • 希望觀光的日期及線路上無解說員時,預約有可能被取消。
  • 為了確認預約,徒步觀光事務局(02-6925-0777)會致電進行確認。
    (最少5日~壹個月前) 3次以上無法連接時,預約將被取消。
  • 進行解說時,對於有可能發生的安全事故,徒步觀光事務局和首爾文化觀光 解說員概不負責。
  • 氣象特報(酷暑、颱風、暴雨 、霧霾 等)而導致徒步觀光無法進行時,將一律取消所有預約。(發布限令時將立即取消)
    ※ 請在以下網站上隨時確認預約當天的氣象特報。
    (https://www.accuweather.com/zh/kr/seoul/226081/weather-forecast/226081)