The organizing committee for the “2026 World Taekwondo Hanmadang (hereafter the Hanmadang)” has officially launched.

On Wednesday, May 6th at 4:00 PM, Kukkiwon held the “2026 World Taekwondo Hanmadang Organizing Committee Inaugural Meeting (hereafter the Inaugural Meeting)” in the lecture room, solidifying its determination to successfully host the Hanmadang, which is about 80 days away.

During the inaugural meeting, attended by Kukkiwon President Yun Ung-suk, Kukkiwon officials, and organizing committee officials, the master plan for the Hanmadang was announced under the slogan, “Kukkiwon, THE FIRST LIGHT of the World Taekwondo Hanmadang.”

Regarding the committee’s composition, Han Hye-jin, former Kukkiwon board member (CEO of Mookas Playon), will lead Hanmadang serving as the Acting Chairperson and Secretary General.

For practical operations, Eom Jae-yeong, former director of the Korea Taekwondo Association, was appointed as the Head of the Planning Headquarters; Lee Yong-hui, Director of the Kukkiwon Project Bureau, as the Head of the Administrative Headquarters; An Byeong-deok, Kukkiwon External Relations Officer, as the Head of the External Cooperation Headquarters; Kang Dae-in, Chairman of the Kukkiwon Technical Council, as the General Head of Competition; Kim Bong-hwan, theory professor at the World Taekwondo Academy, as the Head of Competition 1; and Lee Jae-uk, secretary of the Technical Council, as the Head of Competition 2.

In addition, experts in various fields, such as Design Director Seol Myeong-su and Music Director Hwang Ji-hye, were appointed to elevate the visual and auditory perfection of the Hanmadang.

In cooperation with Gangnam-gu, the “2026 World Taekwondo Hanmadang,” which will be held at Kukkiwon for five days from Saturday, August 1st to Wednesday, August 5th, is expected to see the participation of around 5,000 global Taekwondo family members from 55 countries, with competitions scheduled across 15 events and 143 categories.

In particular, depending on the scale of participation, this Hanmadang plans to increase efficiency by introducing a separate preliminary round exclusively for the domestic categories of the Team Comprehensive Competition and Individual Comprehensive Breaking.

At the inaugural meeting, Hanmadang President and Kukkiwon President Yun Ung-suk said, “This year’s Hanmadang will be a new beginning that sets the foundation of Taekwondo straight and reaches out to the world,” and urged, “Let all members of the organizing committee unite with one mind to make it the greatest festival for the Taekwondo family.”

Following him, Han Hye-jin, Acting Chairperson and Secretary General of the Organizing Committee, expressed her strong determination, stating, “Beyond the symbolism of being held at Kukkiwon for the first time in 10 years since 2016, this Hanmadang will serve as a turning point where the martial arts values of Taekwondo and modern festival culture harmonize. I will concentrate all our capabilities on creating a Hanmadang where the joy of participating and the joy of watching coexist, and where the participants become the main characters.”

Meanwhile, the “2026 World Taekwondo Hanmadang” plans to process participant registrations through the Hanmadang website starting in mid-May.

Reference Material

2026 World Taekwondo Hanmadang Master Plan <6 Core Strategies>

1. Re-establishing Identity: Under the concept of Kukkiwon, THE FIRST LIGHT of the World Taekwondo Hanmadang, a group of experts (Creative Commanders) will collaborate to integrate an identity befitting an international competition. By creating an official soundtrack and integrating the venue’s Brand Identity (BI), the artistry of Taekwondo will be conveyed through a refined image, and the Hanmadang will be expanded into an unrivaled international Taekwondo competition IP.

2. Re-establishing Authority: To ensure fairness in judging, specialized referees will be appointed for categories such as Poomsae and Technical Breaking, and a transparency system will be introduced. In addition to strengthening refresher training for the referee team, the competition will secure both thrill and authority by pushing to revive university admission bonus points for winners entering Taekwondo departments nationwide, and by introducing authentic sparring as an exhibition event.

3. Budget Efficiency and Innovation in the Reward System: Budget waste will be minimized by transitioning customary expenses, such as the production of one-time expensive uniforms and bulk printed materials, into digital systems. The saved budget will be allocated toward prize money for core events, such as the Power Breaking Champion, Team Comprehensive Competition, and Poomsae Team Event, to actively encourage the participation of elite athletes.

4. Expanding Participation: For general trainees, Gangnam-gu residents, and family-unit spectators, a color belt category will be newly established to lower the hurdle for participation. A global festival atmosphere where “every participant is a main character” will be created through various events and prizes, such as a Taekwondo experience zone and a breaking challenge.

5. Historic Opening Ceremony: A “wave of white uniforms” will be staged with a large-scale entrance parade leading from Kukkiwon to Teheran-ro (Yeoksam Station to Gangnam Station). A finale performance in collaboration with K-Culture artists is underway, alongside a gala show by the Kukkiwon Taekwondo Demonstration Team.

6. Attracting Corporate Sponsorships: Partnerships will be attracted from representative companies in various industries, including finance, security, Korean cuisine, food and beverage, and healthcare. Through a hybrid model of in-kind and cash sponsorships, financial independence will be increased, establishing a foundation for the sustainable growth of the competition.