[By NBC-1TV K, Y Yi] SEOUL, Korea (Mar. 7, 2022) - World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue today received an honorary doctorate in science from Dankook University in Yongin, Korea in recognition of his dedication to the global development of Taekwondo and peace through sport, which is closely aligned with the university’s tenet of truth and service.
President Choue was presented with the honorary doctorate during a ceremony in which he expressed his gratitude and honour to receive such an award:
“It is a great honour to receive an honorary doctorate from Dankook University. We will continue to work hard to promote world peace and create a more harmonious and sustainable world through Taekwondo, an Olympic sport”.
The global sport of Taekwondo has developed dramatically since President Choue became President in 2004 and World Taekwondo has established itself as a leader in promoting peace and humanitarian causes in sport.
President Choue founded the WT Taekwondo Peace Corps, which was later changed into the World Taekwondo Peace Corps Foundation, in which he ran as chairman from 2009 to 2015 and currently serves as an honorary president. He established the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation (THF) in 2016 which empowers refugees and displaced people through Taekwondo.
The flagship Azraq Taekwondo Academy of the THF officially opened in 2018 and so far, there have been 15 refugee athletes who have received black belts.
President Choue also established the Taekwondo Cares Program, which supports the powerless in developing countries, such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Cambodia, among others.
The program helps reformatory inmates, orphans, alcohol and drug victims, national disaster victims, and homeless children from developing nations.
As a result of the developments of Taekwondo, the sport has been retained on the programme of every Olympic Games since Sydney 2000 and was recently confirmed as an official sport for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
In addition, following the successful debut of Para Taekwondo at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the sport’s medal events for Paris 2024 have been increased from 6 to 10 and its athlete quota from 72 to 120.
The Dankook University honorary doctorate marks the 10th honorary doctorate President Choue has received.
