‘Taekwondo, Facing the World’: Exploring the Legacy and History of Taekwondo 

at Korean Cultural Centre India

Opening Ceremony at 4 pm on June 2 to be graced by Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India, H.E. Lee Seong-ho

The exhibition will be open to the public at Korean Cultural Centre India gallery until August 1, 2025

Exhibition of historical materials from National Taekwondo Museum of Korea showing the evolution of Taekwondo from the 1950s to the present

The original Taekwondo Museum in Korea

A special exhibition titled ‘Taekwondo, Facing the World’ will open on 2 June 2025 at the Korean Cultural Centre India. This exhibition, through the collection shared by the National Taekwondo Museum in Korea, aims to shed light on the globalisation of Taekwondo through its evolution into a competitive sport. The opening ceremony of the exhibition will be held at 4 pm on June 2 and will be graced by the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India, H.E. Lee Seong-ho. The exhibition will be open to the public at Korean Cultural Centre India gallery until August 1, 2025.

This exhibition showcases the remarkable journey of how Taekwondo, a traditional Korean martial art, has evolved into a global sport practiced in more than 200 countries. Taekwondo gradually developed into a systematic form through competition and integration between dojangs (training halls) after the Korean War, and began to be competitive in the 1960s when it was adopted as an official event in the National Sports Festival.

Then, in the 1970s, it spurred internationalisation through the World Taekwondo Championships, and in the 1980s, it entered the international stage in earnest when it was adopted as a demonstration event in the Asian Games and the Olympics. In the 2000s, it was registered as an official Olympic event, and Taekwondo established itself as a global sport loved by people around the world.

In recent years, the growth of Taekwondo in India has been phenomenal with the country producing world-class athletes across all age groups. In May 2025, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports officially recognised India Taekwondo as the national sports federation responsible for governing the sport in India. This marks a significant milestone in the development of Taekwondo in the country. Korean Cultural Centre India has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with India Taekwondo and is further enhancing training capacity through collaboration with Korean Taekwondo instructors.

Korean Cultural Centre India has also been supporting Taekwondo classes in Indian primary and secondary schools since 2021, and as of 2025, a total of 3,287 students are learning Taekwondo through regular classes and after-school activities in 47 schools in 10 states and UTs including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. As part of its collaboration with India Taekwondo, classes are gradually expanding throughout India, and Taekwondo is becoming an integrated education program that goes beyond a simple sport and combines school education and mental cultivation.

Namdev Shirgaonkar, President of India Taekwondo, said, “This exhibition is a meaningful opportunity to highlight the legacy and globalisation of Taekwondo, and it reflects the long-standing cooperation between India and Korea through this martial art. With continued investment and support, we can look forward to winning more medals at the World Championships and the Asian Games. Furthermore, I believe Taekwondo will go beyond being just a sport and take root as a way of life that instills values of perseverance, respect, and self-discipline in the younger generation.”

Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India, H.E. Lee Seong-ho said, “This exhibition is an opportunity to showcase the philosophy, history, and globalisation of Taekwondo. Currently, Indian Taekwondo is strengthening its competitiveness with the goal of winning a medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and various Taekwondo officials in Korea are also providing their support. We are also pushing for the establishment of a Delhi branch of the World Taekwondo Headquarters, the parent organization of the World Taekwondo Federation. I hope that this exhibition will provide deep inspiration to the youth of India at a time when Taekwondo has become a medium for human and cultural exchange beyond mere sports.”