Reporter Jang Gyu-ho 

It has been officially announced that Canada has designated a national 'Taekwondo Day.' This distinguishes it significantly from the occasional declarations of 'Taekwondo Day' for appreciation and recognition in some other countries, like the United States.

▲  Lee Dong-seop (center), the President of Kukkiwon, discusses the development of Taekwondo with Canadian Taekwondo representatives. On his left is Ha Gi-seung, the President of the Canadian Taekwondo Association. He is the only Korean to serve as the President of the NOC Taekwondo Federation. /Courtesy of Kukkiwon

According to the Kukkiwon, led by President Lee Dong-seop, the Canadian government has decided to celebrate 'Taekwondo Day' on September 4. This date marks the day when Taekwondo was officially adopted as an Olympic sport during the 103rd International Olympic Committee General Assembly held in Paris in 1994.

The official designation of 'Taekwondo Day' by the Canadian government was made possible due to the significant efforts by President Lee Dong-seop and the continuous dedication of local Taekwondo masters, as emphasized during his visit to Canada in June.

During his visit from June 15 to 22, President Lee Dong-seop visited Vancouver and other cities in Canada, where he met with federal lawmakers, Canadian Taekwondo association members, Korean-Canadian expatriates, and others. He took the opportunity to explain the excellence of Taekwondo and its spirit, fostering empathy among the attendees.

Particularly, he paid tribute at the 'Peace Ambassador' monument in Burnaby Central Park, offered respects to the memory of the Korean War veterans who fought on June 25, and invited these veterans to attend the demonstration by the Kukkiwon demonstration team. Through these activities, he sincerely conveyed his gratitude.

The designation of 'Taekwondo Day' by the Canadian government was greatly influenced by the active explanations given by federal senators, including Senator Jonah Martin, a Korean-Canadian, who passionately advocated the significance of Taekwondo.

Additionally, Representative Michel Ferri's two children had learned Taekwondo from Master Marcelo Sá, experiencing firsthand the spirit, etiquette, and mutual respect that Taekwondo promotes. Master Sá had also brought athletes to participate in the 2023 Seongnam Taekwondo Festival, held in Seongnam starting from July 21.

On September 27, Canada is planning to hold a commemorative event for 'Taekwondo Day' at the Garden of the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa. The event is expected to be attended by President Lee Dong-seop of Kukkiwon, Canadian government officials, federal lawmakers, parliamentary staff, diplomats from various countries, and members of the Ottawa Korean community.

President Lee Dong-seop expressed his profound appreciation, stating, "The proclamation of Taekwondo Day on a national level is a meaningful event, and I extend my gratitude to the over two hundred million Taekwondo practitioners worldwide. I will do my best to ensure that Kukkiwon Taekwondo is recognized as the world's best martial art beyond South Korea and respected by people all over the globe."