- 09:30
The visit to Beirut by the director of the International Department of Kukkiwon, the supreme body of world taekwondo, marks a symbolic step for the Lebanese Federation. Received at the Federation’s headquarters, the South Korean official praised a “very active” organization and results that are weighing more and more on the regional scene.
There are visits that look like a simple handshake, and others that sound like an official stamp. That of Na Young Ji, director of the International Department of Kukkiwon (South Korea), at the headquarters of the Lebanese Taekwondo Federation in Horch Tabet, clearly belongs to the second category. Accompanied by the organization’s representative in Lebanon, Soo Eun Park, the Korean official was received by the president of the Lebanese Federation, Dr Habib Zarifeh, alongside the secretary general Dr Richard Abi Zeid Daou, the treasurer Grand Master Elie Naameh, and committee member Araxi Gebenlian.
At the heart of the meeting, a word that often comes up when it comes to sport in Lebanon: development. Dr Zarifeh presented to Kukkiwon the Federation’s roadmap to further structure the discipline, strengthen its base, and continue its rise on the international stage. A message backed by the results already achieved in competitions and championships, and which serves as a calling card when one wants to broaden partnerships and consolidate a place in the world taekwondo family.
A Global Label… and a Strong Signal
Na Young Ji’s reaction did not take long. The South Korean official said he was happy with his visit to Lebanon and his exchange with the Federation’s leadership, praising “the effective role” of the Lebanese Federation in spreading taekwondo and highlighting the medals won by Lebanese athletes, men and women, in international championships and competitions. Even more, he insisted on the regular follow-up he gives to Lebanese taekwondo news, describing the Lebanese Federation as “very active,” a “pillar” within the international and Asian bodies, and a “major player” in the Middle East region.
Behind these formulas, there is a reality that insiders immediately measure: when Kukkiwon speaks, the taekwondo world listens. And when it officially recognizes the energy of a national federation, it strengthens its credibility, its network, and its ability to carry weight in technical exchanges, training, standards, and support.
What Exactly Is Kukkiwon?
To understand the importance of this visit, it is necessary to recall what Kukkiwon is: the official world headquarters of taekwondo, often nicknamed the discipline’s “World Academy.” Founded in Seoul in 1972, it plays a central role in preserving taekwondo’s identity and history, while steering its evolution: harmonizing standards, developing curricula, delivering certifications — notably black-belt “dan” ranks — and issuing official certificates recognized internationally. In other words: the supreme authority of taekwondo in its institutional and technical dimension.
An Exchange of Gestures… and Messages
The meeting concluded with an exchange of protocol gifts between Dr Habib Zarifeh and Na Young Ji. A classic gesture, but rarely a trivial one: it closes a discussion, seals an intention, and suggests that the dialogue is meant to continue, beyond photos and statements.
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