WT-ITF Unified ONE Taekwondo Championship Attracts Prominent Figures from the Taekwondo Community 
 
By Lee Jae-wook, Reporter at Sisa Magazine — The ONE Taekwondo Championship, the only tournament in the world where both WT (World Taekwondo) and ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) styles compete under one roof, marked another successful year with its grand opening at the Olympic Gymnasium of Hanyang University. Building on the momentum from last year, the event once again drew a large and enthusiastic crowd. 
 
This year’s championship gained even greater significance with the inclusion of the “ONE Taekwondo Forum,” a cultural event jointly hosted by the public sector, private sector, and the National Assembly. Held on April 11 at the National Assembly, the forum was co-organized by Assemblyman Kim Seung-soo (People Power Party) and Assemblyman Lee Ki-heon (Democratic Party of Korea). 
 
Assemblyman Lee Ki-heon, a member of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee who attended the opening ceremony for the second consecutive year, praised the event in his congratulatory speech: 
“Taekwondo has played a key role in promoting the Korean Wave (Hallyu) and is one of Korea's most successful Olympic sports. The ONE Taekwondo Championship, which brings together both Olympic WT Taekwondo and traditional ITF Taekwondo in a single venue, has now reached its 6th edition and continues to grow. I will actively support this event so it can continue to flourish.” 
 
Other distinguished guests included Yoon Woong-seok (Advisor, representing Yang Jin-bang, President of the Korea Taekwondo Association), Pablo Scheiner (Ambassador of Uruguay), Jung Guk-hyun (Executive Member, World Taekwondo), Professor Lee Jae-bong (Korea National Sport University), Lee Ja-hyung (President, Seoul Taekwondo Association), Professor Yoo Jung-ae (Chung-Ang University), Professor Song Nam-jung (Woosuk University), and Han Hye-jin (Board Member, Kukkiwon), among many other taekwondo officials and leaders. 
 
The 6th ONE Taekwondo Championship featured competitions across both WT and ITF styles. Events included “Pattern” for colored belts and black belts, “Sparring” for male and female competitors (individual and team), and “Poomsae” and “Gyeorugi” for WT participants. 
 
A unique addition this year was the debut of a new category called "Real Combat Sparring," developed by the ONE Taekwondo Championship Organizing Committee. This new format allowed both WT and ITF practitioners to compete in a hybrid, practical sparring event, drawing significant attention. 
 
Co-organizers Um Jae-young and Yu Seung-hee(Sean) emphasized the theme “ONE TAEKWON-DO, ONE Championship,” noting that as global interest in Taekwondo unity grows, the tournament is gaining traction internationally and has the potential to be exported to other countries as a global competition. 
 
In total, 1,680 Taekwondo practitioners and supporters, including 1,080 domestic participants and representatives from 21 countries, attended the event. The championship also featured exciting performances by the KTA National Demonstration Team and interactive activities provided by Jaemita Co., Ltd., enhancing the experience for all involved.