Taekwondo Body Recruiting Foreigners

The World Taekwondo Federation has decided to recruit foreigners after being criticized that it is composed of mostly Koreans and being mocked as a pseudo international organization.

The president of the WTF, Choue Chung-won, held a press conference on January 10 at the WTF office in Samsung-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul and said, “To nurture the WTF as an internationally-renowned sports body, we will expand participation of foreign members who are recommended by Member National Associations.”

Right now, among 17 staff members of the secretariat of the WTF, Jerry Ling from Singapore is the only foreigner. WTF also plans to send Jean-Marie Ayer as the WTF attache to its Lausanne WTF Office and add more foreigners there. The office opened last December.

Meanwhile, the WTF accepted the resignation of Secretary General Moon Dong-hoo on January 8 and the body also announced Deputy Secretary for refereeing Yim Yoon-tack stepped down to take early retirement. Deputy Secretary for Marketing and Promotion, Kim Se-hwan resigned too.

beetlez@donga.com