WT and ITF Taekwondo United at the National Assembly… ONE Taekwondo International Academic Forum Held on April 11 
 
Taekwondo Finally Unites at the National Assembly 
 
The ONE Taekwondo International Academic Forum, which encompasses both the WT (World Taekwondo) and ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) styles, will be held on April 11 (Friday) at the National Assembly of South Korea. 
 
This forum is jointly hosted by National Assembly members Kim Seung-soo (People Power Party) and Lee Ki-heon (Democratic Party of Korea), and co-organized by the Korea Taekwondo Association, Chung-Ang University School of Physical Education Research Institute, and the ONE Taekwondo Championship Organizing Committee (Co-Chairs: Um Jae-young, Yoo Seung-hee). 
 
This is the first time a forum like this, bringing together political, private, and taekwondo organizations, has been held. It marks a significant attempt to realize the vision of ONE Taekwondo, uniting WT and ITF under a shared academic, cultural, and practical exchange. 
 
The forum, under the theme "The Diversity of Global Taekwondo Culture and Peaceful Coexistence," will examine WT and ITF Taekwondo from a humanities perspective and explore the possibility of integrating them. Notably, the focus will be on improving the quality of Taekwondo through academic research and offering a fresh interpretation of international Taekwondo culture. 
 
Professor Song Nam-jung (Woosuk University) will serve as the chair of the forum. Renowned scholars from around the world will participate as presenters, including Seo Seong-won, editor-in-chief of Taekwondo Box Media, Bae Jun-su, research professor at Kyungpook National University, Dr. John A. Johnson (Southwestern University), and Dr. Sanko Lewis (Sahmyook University, South Africa). They will present on Taekwondo scholarship, philosophy, and strategies for international expansion. 
 
Yoo Seung-hee, the organizing committee co-chair, emphasized, “This is a historic first step in re-establishing the true spirit of Taekwondo, beyond ideologies and systems. This forum, held in collaboration between the National Assembly and Taekwondo organizations, will be a pivotal moment in shaping the theoretical framework for international Taekwondo.” 
 
The forum is being held with full support from Yang Jin-bang, president of the Korea Taekwondo Association, as well as from the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation, Seoul Taekwondo Association, and Gyeonggi-do Taekwondo Association. It is particularly special as it takes place in the symbolic location of the National Assembly, opening up academic discourse on Taekwondo.