Current Status and Prospects of TAEKWONDO’s Globalization

As of 2018, as evidenced by 209 member states of the World Taekwondo Federation and 10,023,090 black belt holders, Taekwondo today is loved as a sport of the world beyond being Korea’s traditional martial art. Together with the economic development, Korea has been able to utilize its position and honor as the originator country of Taekwondo for the last half century, and has continued to grow while strengthening its values and functions as an Olympic sport. However, the rapid growth of Taekwondo through sport has caused issues such as under-mining the value of traditional martial art, and the need for qualitative growth such as the development of in depth related contents has emerged. This study examined the globalization process and the current status of Taekwondo, analyzed the current status of the Taekwondo’s globalization project and Taekwondo’s dissemina-tion, and contemplated on the globalization and sustainable development of Taekwondo through it. As alterna-tives for the continued development and globalization of Taekwondo are, first, to maintain Taekwondo as an official Olympic game, second, to seek plans for long term trainers of Taekwondo, and third, systemic improve-ments for the globalization project of Taekwondo and other related policy.