Taekwondo bridges ASEAN, Korean youths

The ASEAN-Korea Center and the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation held a training camp for the youths of Southeast Asia and Korea in late January. 

The event at Taekwondowon in Muju, North Jeolla Province, from Jan. 25-30 gathered 55 students from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, who partnered with Korean young people. Sponsored by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund, the venue aimed at fostering friendship and education.

Participants learned the martial art’s basic postures, stretching techniques and mental exercises in addition to attending Korean language classes, art workshops and special lectures. They also visited the Jeonju Hanok (traditional Korean homes) Village, MBC World Hallyu Theme Park and Seoul Namsan Tower. 

One of the participants was Linda Sim from Singapore, who started taekwondo at 17 to strengthen her body and later taught it to children fighting cancer as part of their rehabilitation. According to the center, three students from Singapore came to boost their confidence and combat illness while practicing the sport, as well as to make friends here.

Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Huu Chi, diplomats from the Brunei, Laos, Malaysian and Singapore embassies, Taekwondo Promotion Foundation secretary-general Kim Joon-heon and ASEAN-Korea Center director Kim Ki-hong participated in the closing ceremony on Jan. 30 at the center building in Seoul.

By Joel Lee (joel@heraldcorp.com)