The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in South Africa held the 2022 Ambassador’s Taekwondo Cup in Johannesburg, from 08:00 to 20:00 on 10 September 2022 with 59 athletes from five countries, in Southern Africa.

▲ Welcoming remarks by Ambassador Park Chul-joo, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in South Africa

Ambassador Park Chul-joo said in a welcoming speech at the opening event, "Despite the difficult conditions, I am happy to host a meaningful event where athletes from five Southern African countries will attend a taekwondo competition in one place, and I am proud to invite a taekwondo demonstration team from Korea. I hope this event will further increase interest in Taekwondo." After that, a welcoming speech by David Kok, president of the South African Taekwondo Association, and a congratulatory speech by Jeon Gap-gil, chairman of the Kukkiwon, continued. This year, in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and South Africa, the Kukkiwo Demonstration Team visited and performed a celebratory performance. Also, the local Samulnori team performance boosted the excitement of the event.

▲ Celebration performance by a local Samulnori team in South Africa

▲ Kukkiwon Taekwondo Demonstration Team's Celebration Performance

Spectators enjoyed watching the Kukkiwon Taekwondo Demonstration Team's spectacular Taekwondo demontration, including aerial kicks. Among the visitors who attended on this day, Carlin said, “My son is taking Taekwondo classes at the Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa, and seeing the level of the Kukkiwon Taekwondo Demonstration Team, my son's aspiration for Taekwondo has also grown higher and higher,” expressing her satisfaction. In the Poomsae category, athletes with white belts, yellow belts, and blue belts showed their poomsae to the judges with the skills they had honed in the past, proving their qualifications to be equipped with a higher colour belt.

▲ Athletes presenting their poomsae to the judges

Four of the 21 people who won the Poomsae Medal belonged to the Taekwondo class at the Korean Cultural Center in South Africa. Lesogo, a Taekwondo instructor at the Cultural Centre said, "I'm so proud. I hope that it will be further promoted in the future and that Taekwondo players from the Cultural Center will receive more awards.”

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▲ Poomsae Medal Winners from the Korean Cultural Centre in south Africa

In the Kyorugi ‘Sparring’ category, athletes from various weight classes participated. As athletes from various countries participate, the atmosphere of the stadium was like a national competition.

▲ Taekwondo athletes competing

Through this event, it was an opportunity for Taekwondo people from not only the host country but also neighbouring countries in Southern Africa to interact, and contribute to the expansion of the Taekwondo popularity in Southern Africa.