By Scott Shaw

Author's Note:

This, "History of Taekwondo," is placed here as an aid to the evolving understanding of the factors which have lead to the formation of the modern Korean martial arts. This being stated, it pains me to have to preface this history with a statement but, though there have been a few individuals who have done a great job of personally researching and chronicling the evolution of the modern Korean martial arts -- as time has progressed, however, some authors and numerous websites have taken various parts or all of this historical information, changed a few words, used it as their own, and have not referenced their source. As any historian understands, researching history is a complicated, painstaking, and time consuming process. This is particularly the case with the modern Korean martial arts -- as each person and organization represents their memory and historically understanding in a uniquely self-serving manner, and their recollections have continued to change with time.

The source of reference for all of the research into the modern Korean martial arts provided here was gained through my years of personal conversations with the founders of the Korean kwans and first generation practitioners, both in the United States and Asia. Therefore, it is non-duplicative and, thus, no footnotes are required; though they could easily be applied. Plus, I attempt to keep this information up to date when situations in the modern Korean martial arts change.

I began this research in the 1970s and wrote my first paper on the subject when I was in high school. I wrote several additional papers when I was in college, and my first article on the subject found its way to publication in 1979. Since then I have had several articles published on the subject and a few of my books detail the origin of the Korean martial arts. Plus, a version of this article has been on the web since 1992. Since then, a number of websites have asked me to write articles on specific elements of the historical foundations of the Korean martial arts, which I have done and all of the articles have received copyright and then were published on the various sites.

Thought this information is happily provided, none-the-less, it has legal copyright -- from 1979 forward. Therefore, if you are going to use this data, be fair and reference where you received it by naming your source. Also, if you would like to use the entire article on your website, that's fine. Simply state where you received the information, provide a link to us, let us know, and we will provide a link to your website.

At the end of this historical study there are a few books listed that I recommend. They provide a great source of information for further study into the foundational history of Korean culture and the ancient Korean martial arts.

Taekwondo, "The Way of the Fist and Foot," is an advanced systems of martial arts known for its aggressive linear attacks and its refined kicking techniques. Taekwondo is the most practiced system of martial art in the world and was introduced as an Olympic Sport in 1984.

What is known as Taekwondo today, has gone through a long process of evolution since its inception at the end of World War II. In post war Korea, with brutal Japanese occupation lifted, Korea went through a period of cultural revitalization. During this process, the martial arts, which were banned by the occupying forces, found a new resurgence. The Korean people, who swore to never be over powered again, embraced the proliferation of the martial arts through out the nation. From this, came the birth of the modern Korean martial arts.

The Birth of Taekwondo

At the beginning of the twentieth century Korea was militarily occupied by Japan. This annexation was not lifted until Japan's defeat at the end of World War II.

With brutal Japanese occupation lifted, Korea went through a period of rapid cultural revitalization. During this process, the indigenous martial arts, which had been banned by the occupying forces, found a new resurgence. The Korean peoples, swearing to never be over taken by a foreign power again, embraced this proliferation of the martial arts throughout their nation. From this came the birth of the modern Korean martial arts.

Taekwondo has gone through a long process of evolution since its foundations began to be laid at the end of World War II. It took many years for the various Korean martial art instructors to finally unite their individual kwans, "Schools," under the banner of Taekwondo. To understand this process, we can view the history of the modern Korean martial arts.

Chung Do Kwan

Chung Do Kwan was founded by Lee, Won Kuk. This was the first school of martial arts to be established in modern Korea and was the first school to begin laying the foundations for what was to become Taekwondo. The name Chung Do Kwan means, "The School of the Blue Waves."

Lee, Won Kuk began his career in the martial arts at the age of nineteen. In 1926 he relocated to Japan to attend college. During his time at the University he studied Shotokan Karate directly from it founder, Gichin Funakoshi.

Lee eventually returned to Korea and began teaching Karate in September of 1944. The location of his school was at the Yong Shin School in the Suh Dae Moon Gu section of Seoul.

During Japanese occupation it was virtually impossible for a Korean to open a school of Karate in their homeland. Due to Lee's close relationship with the Japanese Governor General of Korea, however, he was one of the very few people who were allowed to do so. This led to widespread rumors and deep distrust of Lee. It was believed that he must be a Japanese sympathizer or he would not have been allowed to open his school. This distrust ran so deep that in 1945, when Korea was liberated, Lee was put on trial for his Japanese affiliations. This caused him to temporarily close the doors of his school.

Lee was not convicted, however. Upon his acquittal, he became very proactive in his stance about Korean independence.

Lee formed a tight alliance with the Korean National Police. So much so, that when his Chung Do Kwan was reopened in Gyun Ji Dong, Si Chun Gyo Dang, Jong Ro Gu section of Seoul, in April of 1946, it became referred to as the National Police Dojang. The Korean term, "Dojang," refers to a martial arts studio.

In 1951, due to his age, Lee, Won Kuk asked one of his senior students, Son, Duk Sung to take over as the chief instructor of the studio. Son, Duk Sung, accepted this offer and, thereby, became the second grandmaster of Chung Do Kwan.

Many of the Korean schools of martial art closed their doors during the Korean War. Chung Do Kwan was no exception. It did not reopen until 1953. By this point, however, Lee, Won Kuk rarely visited the school due to his advanced age. Son, Duk Sung and the instructors Son had personally trained, became the primary teacher's of the kwan.

There is an interesting fact regarding the Chung Do Kwan. Son, Duk Sung was the instructor who provided General Choi, Hong Hi with his 4th Dan certificate. Son, details that this was an honorary degree. He later canceled this certificate, and revoked Choi's honorary Kwajang (Grandmaster) status when General Choi sent him a 6th Dan certificate which he insisted that Son must sign. Son also expelled Nam, Tae Hi, from Chung Do Kwan during this same time period. Choi and Nam were the founders of the Oh Do Kwan, which will be discussed later in this paper.

The first seventeen black belts of Chung Do Kwan were:

1) Yoo, Ung Jun,

2) Son, Duk Sung,

3) Uhm, Woon Kyu,

4) Hyun, Jong Myun,

5) Min, Woon Sik,

6) Han, In Sook,

7) Jung, Young Taek,

8) Kang, Suh Chong,

9) Baek, Joon Ki,

10) Nam, Tae Hi,

11) Ko, Jae Chun,

12) Kwak, Kuen Sik,

13) Kim, Suk Kyu,

14) Han, Cha Kyo,

15) Jo, Sung Il,

16) Lee, Sa Man,

17) Rhee, Jhoon Goo -- the Father of American Taekwondo.

As time progressed, several advanced students of Chung Do Kwan branched off and founded their own kwans. They include:

1) Kuk Mu Kwan, founded by Kang, Suh Chong,

2) Jung Do Kwan, founded by Lee, Yong Woo,

3) Chung Ryong Kwan, founded by Ko, Jae Chun,

4) Oh Do Kwan, founded by Choi, Hong Hi and Nam, Tae Hi.

Chosun Yun Moo Kwan - Ji Do Kwan

The evolution of Chosun Yun Moon Kwan began in 1931 when Lee, Kyung Suk, a Korean who taught Judo, was allowed to established the Chosun Yun Moo Kwan school in Seoul. He successfully operated this school of Judo for several decades.

At the end of World War II, Lee, Kyung Suk asked Chun, Sang Sup to set up a course of Kwon Bop at his school. Kwon Bop is one of the Korean terms used for Japanese Karate. This program was named, Chosun Yun Moo Kwan Kwon Bup Bu.

Chun, Sang Sup began his martial arts training in Judo while in high school. He then relocated to Japan to attend Dong Yang Chuck Sik College. It is during this period he became exposed to Shotokan Karate and is thought to have earned a black belt.

Upon retuning to Korea, Chun is believed to have secretly taught Shotokan Karate to private students, beginning in approximately 1940. As privately teaching Karate was outlawed by the Japanese occupying forces, his teaching was not formally recorded until he established his training method post World War II.

Chun, Sang Sup enlisted the help of Yoon, Byung In to teach Karate at Chosun Yun Moo Kwan. Yoon was a 4th degree black belt in Shudokan Karate.

Yoon, Byung In taught at the Chosun Yun Moo Kwan for approximately one year before breaking away and forming his own school, known as Chang Moo Kwan. Chun, Sang Sup, again, returned to full time teaching responsibilities.

Chun's instruction continued until an evil twist of fate found him kidnapped and imprisoned by the North Korean military during the Korean War. He was never heard from again and was eventually believed to be dead.

Upon the loss of Chun, Sang Sup, Chosun Yun Moo Kwan Kwon Bup Bu teaching passed to the hands of Yoon, Kwe Byung, one of Chun's senior students. He renamed the school, Ji Do Kwan, "Wisdom Way School."

During the 1950's, when the various kwans of the Korean martial arts began attempting to merge under one banner, Yoon, Kwe Byung was against unification. Yoon wanted Ji Do Kwan to remain free from organizational control. This did not sit well with the other senior members of Ji Do Kwan, however. As such, Yoon, Kwe Byung was ousted from his presidency and Lee, Chong Woo was elected the new president of Ji Do Kwan.

Lee, Chong Woo forged the Ji Do Kwan into one of the leading schools of martial arts in modern Korea. Its practitioners were noted for their consecutive wins at South Korean tournaments. Lee also went on to hold several pivotal positions within the Korea Taekwondo Association and the World Taekwondo Federation.

The first ten black belts of Ji Do Kwan were:

1) Bae, Young Ki,

2) Lee, Chong Woo,

3) Kim, Bok Nam,

4) Park, Hyun Jung,

5) Lee, Soo Jin,

6) Jung, Jin Young,

7) Lee, Kyo Yoon,

8) Lee, Byung Ro,

9) Hong, Chang Jin,

10) Park, Young Kuen.

The Presidents of Ji Do Kwan:

Founder and first Grandmaster: Chun, Sang Sub.

2nd President: Yoon, Kwye Byung

3rd President: Lee, Chong Woo

4th President: Bae, Young Ki

5th President: Lee, Chong Woo

6th President: Lee, Sueng Wan.

Moo Duk Kwan

Moo Duk Kwan can be translated as, "The school of military virtue." There are two distinct divisions of Moo Duk Kwan. Both of these evolved from a single source in modern Korea. The first is most commonly known as Tang Soo Do. The second is the Moo Duk Kwan division of Taekwondo. To understand how these two separate governing bodies came into existence, we must first view the birth of this system of self-defense.

The founder of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan was Hwang, Kee. Hwang, Kee was an expatriate of Korea during much of its Japanese occupation. He details that he initially secretly studied the Korean arts of Soo Bak Do and Tae Kyon in his homeland before leaving Korea in 1936. At this point Hwang, Kee immigrate to China, where he worked for the Southern Manchuria Railroad.

In early interviews, Hwang, Kee states that he studied numerous systems of Chinese martial arts while living in China. Later, it was detailed that he also studied a system of Karate while he was located in this region.

Hwang, Kee returned to Korea near the end of Japanese occupation and formalized his system of self-defense on his birthday, 9 November 1945. In 1946 his system began to be taught at the Yong San Railway Station in Seoul. It was called, Tang Soo Do Bu. He titled his martial art organization, Kyo Tong Bu Woo Hae.

The Korean term, "Tang Soo," literally translates as, "Knife Hand." The Japanese character used to depict this term is the same one used for Karate.

Due to the fact that Hwang, Kee's first school existed within a railway station, many of his first students were railway employees. This school flourished for many years. Then, as was the case with most schools of martial arts on the Korean peninsula, it was closed on 25 June 1950, due to the onset of the Korean War.

In 1953, when the school reopened, Hwang, Kee had changed the name of the system to Moo Duk Kwan. He also changed the name of his organization to the Korea Soo Bahk Do Association.

By 1955 this organization had ten gymnasiums. Its central headquarters remained near Seoul Station in the Jong Gu section of Dong Ja Dong, Seoul. During this same year, the Korea Soo Bahk Do Association hosted its first Sino-Korean martial art championship.

By 1965, the various kwans of the modern Korean martial arts were merging under the banner of Taekwondo. Hwang, Kee resisted this trend, wishing to maintain control over his organization. Due to this fact, two advanced students of Hwang, Kee's: Im, Young Tek and Hong, Chong Soo broke away from their teacher, formed their own branch of Moo Duk Kwan, and became a part of the Korea Taekwondo Association. From this act, two distinct systems of self-defense, bearing the title Moo Duk Kwan, emerged.

The first president of Taekwondo Moo Duk Kwan was Lee, Kang Ik, elected on 20 November 1965.

Hong, Chong Soo was elected the third President of Taekwondo Moo Duk Kwan on 27 July 1971. In February of 1974 he was appointed the Vice President of Kuk Ki Won.

Many advanced practitioners of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan followed this lead and broke away from Hwang, Kee. They each became part of the Taekwondo branch of Moo Duk Kwan.

Though the two Moo Duk Kwans are relatively similar in style and structure, and most Korean Moo Duk Kwan Masters draw their lineage from Hwang, Kee, the two Moo Duk Kwans possess differing forms and a somewhat differing focus upon self-defense. The Taekwondo branch of Moo Duk Kwan does, however, possess substantially more members -- approximately five hundred thousand.

One interesting note is that Tang Soo Do does not use the traditional black belt in its ranking system -- as is common with the other Korean martial arts. Hwang, Kee believed that black is the color where all other colors merge -- any color which is mixed with black, also become black. If an individual wears a black belt, they are expressing that they have mastered the art. The martial arts, however, are a continual learning process. Thus, no one can ever truly ever master the martial arts. As such, the advanced Tang Soo Do practitioners wear a Navy Blue Belt.

The first Blue Belts of this system were:

1) Kim, Woon Chang,

2) Hong, Chong Soo,

3) Choi, Hui Suk,

4) Yoo, Kwa Young,

5) Nam, Sam Hyun,

6) Kim, In Suk,

7) Lee, Bok Sung,

8) Hwang, Jin Tae,

9) Won, Yong Bup,

10) Chung, Chang Young.

The first President of Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan was:

1) Hwang, Kee

The first four presidents of Taekwondo Moo Duk Kwan were:

2) Lee, Kang Ik

3) Hong, Chong Soo

4) Kim, In Sook

5) Choi, Nam Do

Chang Moo Kwan

Chang Moo Kwan was founded at the YMCA in the Jong Ro section of Seoul in 1946 by Yoon, Byung In. During Japanese occupation, Yoon is said to have studied a Chinese system of self-defense in Korea known as, Joo An Pa. This system is more commonly known as, Chuan Fa. He then relocated to Japan to attend Nihon University. While there, he studied Karate under the direction of Toyama, Kanken, the founder of Shudokan Karate.

Upon Korean independence, Yoon returned to his homeland and taught Karate at the Chosun Yun Moo Kwan Kwon Bup Bu for approximately one year. He broke away from this school and in 1946 opened the YMCA Kwon Bup Bu or Chang Moo Kwan. This school initially had over five hundred students. But, Yoon's training method was so severe that less than two hundred students remained after only a few months.

In 1946, Lee, Nam Suk was named the first official instructor of Chang Moo Kwan. When Yoon, Byung In went missing-in-action, during the Korean War, it was Lee, Nam Suk and Kim, Soon Bae, another advanced student of Yoons, who reopened the school at the Seoul YMCA at the end of the war.

The early Chang Moo Kwan black belts were:

1) Lee, Nam Suk,

2) Kim, Sun Gu,

3) Hong, Jung Pyo,

4) Park, Chul Hee,

5) Park, Ki Tae,

6) Kim, Ju Gap,

7) Song, Suk Joo,

8) Lee, Joo Ho,

9) Kim, Soon Bae.

Kang Duk Won

As the second incarnation of Chang Moo Kwan came into existence in 1953, Lee, Nam Suk and Kim, Soon Bae began to have conflicts with two other senior students of Chang Moo Kwan: Hong, Jung Pyo and Park, Chul Hee. These two men left and formed Kang Duk Won, "House of Teaching Generosity," in the nearby Shin Sul Dong district of Seoul in 1956.

The first black belts of Kang Duk Kwan were:

1) Lee, Kum Hong,

Lee would eventually hold the position of World Taekwondo Federation General Secretary.

2) Kim, Yong Chae,

Kim became the 5th President of the Korea Taekwondo Association.

3) Lee, Jung Hoo,

4) Lee, Kang Hwi,

5) Han, Jung Il

6) Kim, Pyung Soo,

7) Ji, Seung Won,

8) Im, Bok Jin

Song Moo Kwan

Song Moo Kwan was founded in Kae Sung City, Kyung Ki Providence, Korea by Ro, Byung Jick, on 11 March 1944. As was the case with Chung Do Kwan, this school was actually established prior to the end of Japanese occupation. The original classes of the kwan were taught at the Kwan Duk Jung School of Archery.

Due to the repressive political conditions, the kwan was forced to close its doors a few months later. It was not until 2 May 1946 when Ro could reopen his school in Dong Hung Dong, Kae Sung City, Korea.

On 25 June 1950, Song Moo Kwan, which mean, "The Ever Youthful House Of Martial Arts Training," again closed its doors. This was due to the onset of the Korean war. On 20 September 1953 the school was reestablished in the Ah Hyung Dong, Mapo Gu district of Seoul.

Ro's training in the martial arts began in 1936 in Japan. He studied Shotokan Karate alongside Chung Do Kwan founder, Lee, Won Kuk, from Shotokan Karate's founder, Gichin Funakoshi.

The first black belts of Song Moo Kwan were:

1) Lee, Hwa Soon,

2) Lee, Young Sup,

3) Kim, Hong Bin,

4) Han, Sang Min,

5) Song, Tae Hak,

6) Lee, Hwi Jin,

7) Jo, Kyu Chang,

8) Hong, Young Chang,

9) Kang, Won Sik.

Oh Do Kwan

Oh Do Kwan was founded by General Choi, Hong Hi and Major Nam, Tae Hi. Both of these men were advanced military officers in the newly formed army of liberated Korea. Their classes were originally taught at the Korean 3rd Army Base, Yong Dae Ri, Korea.

Choi, Hong Hi was born into a prominent Korean family. He relocated to Japan in his adolescence to further his education. While there, he studied Shotokan Karate and earned a black belt. At the point when World War II broke out, he was forced into the service of the Japanese military. Post World War II, and the defeat of the Japanese occupying forces, he became a pivotal figure in the newly formed Korean military.

Nam, Tae Hi became a student of Chung Do Kwan immediately after Korean Independence. He quickly mastered the art and began teaching at the Korean Army Military Signal School in 1947. During the same time period, Nam, Tae Hi met Choi, Hong Hi. This laid the foundation for the birth of Oh Do Kwan.

As the years progressed, in no small part due to General Choi's senior position in the Korean military, Oh Do Kwan became the main martial art taught to the Korean Army.

Many individuals by the time they were inducted into the Korean armed forces already possessed a black belt from another kwan. Due to General Choi's influence, however, the rank of black belt was only accepted and transferable from students of Oh Do Kwan and Chung Do Kwan. Those practitioners who held black belts from other kwans had to be retrained and retested to be considered for official black belt status. This formulation, at the hands of General Choi, was questioned by many practitioners of the modern Korean martial arts. It, none-the-less, was the impetus of what brought the various schools of the Korean martial arts together under the banner of Taekwondo.

The first five Oh Do Kwan black belts were:

1) Nam, Tae Hi,

2) Baek, Joon Ki,

3) Choi, Dong Hee,

4) Kim, Suk Kyu,

5) Ko, Jae Chun.

The Unification of the Kwans

The unification of the Korean kwans, congregating under one banner, began in the early 1950's. This began when the leaders of the various schools first began to come together and attempt to form a central governing body. Due to the outbreak of the Korean War, however, these initial attempts did not prove to be successful.

During this period of war, several kwan leaders, who were living in the Korean wartime capital of Pusan, formed an alliance and vowed to create a governing body. At the end of the Korean War, the kwan leaders joined forces and set about formalizing an organization. They named this governing body, The Korea Kong Soo Do Association. The term Kong Soo Do was adopted due to the fact that this was a term commonly used to describe Kwon Bop, "Karate" in the Korean language.

Due to Korean politics being deeply embedded into all aspects of Korean culture, the first President of the organization was, Jo, Young Joo. Jo was the head of the Association of Korean Residents in Japan. He was soon followed by a new president, The Republic of Korea Minister of Finance, Lee, Joong Jae. Ro, Byung Jick was elected its Director and Lee, Chong Woo the Secretary General.

The focus of this organization was to provide a standardized system of testing. As each kwan leader had his own system of teaching and testing, this proved to be problematic. None-the-less, the first two tests were given at the central dojang of the Chung Do Kwan, which was actually located in the Si Chun Church, when it was not in use for worship. The next two tests were given at Chae Shin Bu Dojang.

At this point in time, the rank of 4th Dan was the highest degree awarded by the Korea Kong Soo Do Association. This rank was given to the original kwan founders and the advanced teachers of the various kwans.

There was immediate dissension among some founders of the original Korean kwans, however. They were dissatisfied with the promotion standards within this organization. Two of the leaders of this discord were Hwang, Kee (Moo Duk Kwan) and Son, Duk Sung (Chung Do Kwan).

Hwang, Kee was the first to leave the organization. He left one month after the organization was formalized. His departure was in no small part due to the fact that he was not given a position on the Central Testing Committee -- which set the standards for the organization. Approximately one month later, Son, Duk Sung removed his group, Chung Do Kwan, from the organization for the same reason.

It was less than a year before the Korea Kong Soo Do Association began to disintegrate. Hwang, Kee was pushing forward, by petitioning the Korea Amateur Sports Association to grant formalized status to his Korea Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Association. This attempt eventually failed due to the fact that a key player in the Korea Kong Soo Do Association, Ro, Byung Jick, blocked his attempt. What this attempt did, however, was to fuel the independence movement of other kwans who had not become formalized within this group. Some of the kwans which desired ongoing independence were: Han Moo Kwan, Jung Do Kwan, and Oh Do Kwan. All of these groups continued to hold their own promotional testing.

It was particularly the Oh Do Kwan that eventually caused the Korea Kong Soo Do Association to fail. This was primarily due to the influence General Choi's Oh Do Kwan had with the Korean military and with the Korean government. Without General Choi's support, a successful central association was virtually impossible.

In 1959 General Choi petitioned the Ministry of Education and the Korea Amateur Sports Association to found a new organization. Due to his close ties to then Korean President Rhee, Seung Man, the acceptance of this organization was virtually assured.

General Choi coined the name Taekwondo. He substantiated it in the minds of the Korean public by having military and civilian students of the art yell, "Tae Kwon," each time they executed a technique. There were several names considered and extensive debates went on. The five primary kwans: Chung Do Kwan, Oh Do Kwan, Song Moo Kwan, Chang Moo Kwan, Ji Do Kwan, and Moo Duk Kwan came together and the name Taekwondo was finally accepted as the title for the untified style of the Korean martial arts. This acceptance was attributed to the fact that Taekwondo closely reassembled the name of the ancient Korean martial art, Tae Kyon.

The Korea Taekwondo Association

In 1959, the affiliated Korean kwans finally became formalized as The Korea Taekwondo Association. General Choi, Hong Hi was elected its President. Ro, Byung Jick of Sang Moo Kwan and Yoon, Kwe Byung of Ji Do Kwan were elected the Vice Presidents. Hwang, Kee of Moo Duk Kwan was appointed the Chief Director.

Hwang, Kee's participation in this organization was short lived, however. He broke away from the group the same year.

On 16 May 1961 South Korean President Rhee, Sang Man was overthrown by a military coup de tat. South Korea entered into a period of internal chaos. The Korea Taekwondo Association collapsed.

During this period of internal disruption and military rule, the kwans were forced to formalize into one body. In Governmental Decree #6, of this coup, it was detailed that all schools of the Korean martial arts must come together under one banner.

The Korea Tae Soo Do Association

Due to this decree, the leaders of the kwans again came together and attempted to formalize as one organization. Heated debate went on throughout 1961. The group emerged with the name the Korea Tae Soo Do Association.

As was the case with the Korea Kong Soo Do Association, the primary concern was formalized teaching and promotion standards. To help to achieve this, an inspection team was set up and deployed to the various kwans in order to propagate the fact that they must use standardized Hyung, "Forms" and Taeryun, "Free sparring" techniques.

Though the Korea Tae Soo Do Association was the governing body that laid the foundation for what was to become Taekwondo, there was still a large amount of infighting. Many of the advanced members did not like the fact that they were being told what they must teach and how they must advance their students. Again, at the forefront of this controversy was Hwang, Kee. On 20 July 1962, Hwang, Kee wrote his initial letter withdrawing from the organization.

General Choi and the Korea Tae Soo Do Association

Though General Choi was instrumental in the coup, it is important to note that due to his previous close association with ousted President Rhee, he did not play an important role in the formation of this organization. In fact, though he once held the pivotal positions of Commander of the 6th Korean Army and Director of Intelligence, he was extremely disliked by the new Korean President, Park, Chung Hee. General Choi was once President Park's superior officer. As such, Choi was forced to resign from the military and was sent to Malaysia in the capacity of Ambassador.

The Korea Tae Soo Do Association remained without a president for approximately one year after it was founded. Finally, General Choi, Myung Shin became its first president on 28 December 1962.

During this same period of time, Hwang, Kee was granted governmental recognition for his organization by the Korea Amateur Sports Association and the Ministry of Education. This action allowed his Korea Soo Bahk Do Association to remain free from interference throughout the years ahead.

The International Taekwondo Federation

In 1965 General Choi, Hong Hi returned from Malaysia to South Korea. Soon after that he was elected president of the Korea Tae Soo Do Association. He called together the General Assembly and proposed a vote to change the name of the organization back to the Korea Taekwondo Association. The name won by one vote.

By 1966 General Choi had formed the International Taekwondo Federation to help Taekwondo spread across the globe. In that same year, due to many internal political factors, he left South Korea, moving himself and the headquarters of the International Taekwondo Federation to Canada.

The World Taekwondo Federation

Deputy Director of the Republic of Korea Presidential Protective Forces, Dr. Kim, Un Yong was elected the president of the Korea Taekwondo Association on 23 January 1971. Though he initially declined the position due to the continued conflicts within the organization, he was asked by the Korean government to accept and to cleanse the association. This he accomplished with great success.

Believing that Taekwondo was a Korean martial art and its governing body should be based in Korea, Dr. Kim dissolved the relationship between the Korea Taekwondo Association and the International Taekwondo Federation.

In 1973, the World Taekwondo Federation was formed and Dr. Kim was elected its president. This organization has led the martial art of Taekwondo into its status as an Olympic Sport.

In 2004 Dr. Kim stepped down as WTF President due to an ongoing corruption scandal. After a trail held in South Korea he was also sentenced to a two and a half year prision term. In 2005 Chung Won Choue was elected the president of the WTF.

In 2004 Dr. Kim stepped down as WTF President due to an ongoing corruption scandal. After a trail held in South Korea he was also sentenced to a two and a half year prision term. In 2005 Chung Won Choue was elected the president of the WTF.

Taekwondo in the United States

Taekwondo was introduced to the United States by Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee - who is known as the Father of American Taekwondo. He made his first journey to the States in 1956 in a Korean officer training program. After returning to Korea to finish his military service, he came back to the States in 1957 as an engineering student. In 1959, while attending the University of Texas in Austin, he needed income. Thus, he became the first instructor to teach the art of Taekwondo to American students in the United States. Today, in his sixties, he is still a very active instructor and proponent of Taekwondo.