




The Purpose of these Regulations is to regulate the procedures of Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters) Poom or Dan promotion tests and issuance of Dan certificates in order to up-lift the Taekwondo techniques and standardize the Poom or Dan grades throughout the World.

These Regulations shall be applied to the following:
1. Taekwondo instructors and their students who have been duly enrolled as members of an organization in
each Member National Associations of the World Taekwondo Federation.
2. Taekwondo instructors and their students who have practiced in the countries where there are no Member National
Federations affiliated with the WTF.
3. One who has a similar Taekwondo Dan certificate issued by a private group and wishes to receive a Kukkiwon Dan
certificate on condition that he/she respect the Rules and Regulation of Kukkiwon.
4. Those who wish to apply for a Dan certificate from outside their own countries, in which case it is necessary to
submit a certificate proving their residence for more than 6 months in a foreign country

Kukkiwon shall be the supreme executive organ to exercise its exclusive rights over Dan Promotion tests, e.g. approval of promotion tests, test performance, supervision of promotion tests including screening of Poom or Dan applications, certificates and sanctions of Poom or Dan certificates.

1. WTF will support the Member National Associations to help perform the task of Dan promotion testing smoothly.
2. The president of each Member National Association must faithfully perform the Dan promotion testing.
3. Applicants shall observe the test regulations provided by the Kukkiwon.

1. Submission of Dan promotion test applications should be made only via the President of the Member National
Association (MNA) of the WTF in nations where the MNA controls at least 70% of Taekwondo bodies and private
instructors. It is not allowed to be recommended by the individual instructors in those countries. Individual instructors
are not permitted to make personal recommendations.
2. In those countries which do not fall into this category (herein after called "the 1st category"), applications can
be submitted by both the Member National Association and independent instructors.
3. The students who practice Taekwondo under the instruction of the instructors recognized by the Kukkiwon in
the countries where are no Member National Federations affiliated with the WTF should be recommended by those
instructors and submit the application along with the confirmation by the local authorities concerned in that country.

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|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Test Commission | Over 6th Dan Holder | Under 5th Dan |
| Higher Grade Test Commission | Over 7th Dan Holder | Over 6th Dan |


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|---|---|---|---|
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| 1st Poom | N/A | N/A | Less than 15 Years Old |
| 1st to 2nd Pom | 1 year | N/A | 15 |
| 2nd to 3rd Poom | 2 year | N/A | 15 |
| 3rd to 4th Poom | 3 year | N/A | 18 |
| 1st Dan | N/A | 15years and above | N/A |
| 1st to 2nd Dan | 1 year | 16years and above | 15years and above |
| 2nd to 3rd Dan | 2 year | 18years and above | 15years and above |
| 3rd to 4th Dan | 3 year | 21years and above | 18years and above |
| 4th to 5th Dan | 4 year | 25years and above | 22years and above |
| 5th to 6th Dan | 5 year | 30years and above | 30years and above |
| 6th to 7th Dan | 6 year | 36years and above | 36years and above |
| 7th to 8th Dan | 8 year | 44years and above | 44years and above |
| 8th to 9th Dan | 9 year | 53years and above | 53years and above |
| 9th to 10th Dan | N A | 60years and above | 60years and above |



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|---|---|---|
| Dan (Poom) | Taegeuk 1 - 7?(1 appointed) | Taegeuk 8 |
| 2st Dan (Poom) | Taegeuk 1 - 8?(1 appointed) | Koryo |
| 3st Dan (Poom) | Taegeuk 1 - 8 , Koryo?(1 appointed) | Keumkang |
| 4st Dan (Poom) | Taegeuk 1 - 8 , Koryo, Keumkang?(1 appointed) | Taebaek |
| 5th Dan | Taegeuk 1 - 8 , Koryo, Keumkang, Taebaek?(1 appointed) | Pyongwon |
| 6th Dan | Taebaek, Pyongwon, Sipjin?(1 appointed) | Jitae |
| 7th Dan | Pyongwon, Sipjin, Jitae?(1 appointed) | Cheonkwon |
| 8th Dan | Sipjin, Jitae, Cheonkwon (1 appointed) | Hansoo |
| 9th Dan | Jitae, Cheonkwon, Hansoo (1 appointed) | Illyo |
| 10th Dan | Decided by the Judgement of Technical Committee | |

* In case of 1st Poom/Dan to 8th Dan (Except special promotion test for 8th Dan from abroad)
- Example: Promotion Test of Poomsae (Kyorugi)
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicants | ||||
| Kil-Dong Hong | 6 0 | 5 5 | 6 0 | Pass |
| Hee-Song Ma | 5 5 | 5 5 | 6 0 | Failure |
* MPB : Members of Promotion Board
* Applicant will be passed when he get 2 of above 60 points and failed when
he get 2 of below 59 points. (In case of 5 MPB, the applicant will be passed when he get 3 of above 60 points
and failed when he get 3 of below 59 points)
* Poomsae points are applied the average value between appointed and compulsory Poomsae.
In case of 9th Dan and special promotion test for 8th Dan from abroad.
- Example: Promotion test Poomsae
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicants | ||||
| Kil-Dong Hong | 6 0 | 5 5 | 6 0 | Pass |
| Hee-Song Ma | 5 5 | 5 5 | 6 0 | Failure |
* Applicants will be passed when he get 2 of above 60 points and failed when he get 2 of below 59 points. (In case of
5 MPB, the applicant will be passed when he get 3 of above 60 points and failed when he get 3 of below 59 points)
* Poomsae points are applied the average value between appointed and compulsory Poomsae.
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eye Control | Eye Control | Eye Control | Power of Blow | Mental Aspect |
| Concentration of Spirit | Concentration of Spirit | Balance | Special Hand Techniques | Practical Aspect |
| Speed Control | Speed Control | Power Control | Special Foot Techniques | |
| Strength Control | Strength Control | Speed | ||
| Flexibility | Flexibility | Part of Attack | ||
| Balance | Balance | |||
| Variety in Techniques |



Despite the present regulations, the President of Kukkiwon may exercise his discretional authority in dealing with promotion tests in accordance with the decision of the Kukkiwon promotion test committee.


As in the following case, it may have the privileges of test application with shortened age and time limits.
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|---|---|---|
| Result of Championships | 1. Winner of Olympic Games | 100% |
| 2. Winner of world level championships sponsored by WTF | 80% | |
| 3. Winner of continental level championships approved by WTF | 60% | |
| Result of Merit | One who received a medal from the president of the country for his devotion for development of Taekwondo | 50% |



The instructor who holds 4th Dan or higher Dan has a right to test the Gup promotion and issue the Gup certificates by his name for his students. By-laws for Gup promotion test will be made up separately.

Documents for applicants for Dan promotion tests are required as follows;

The regulations shall be effective as January 1, 1999.






























