© (L)WTU reporter Semi (R)President G..M Gyung-duk Kim (WTU)

Q1. Nice to meet you, president Kim! Thank you very much for taking a time for interview in your busy schedule. First, how is your health condition?

A1 – I’m bit old but I am still very healthy.

Q2- COVID-19 virus that started in last December became a global pandemic around the world and the situation reminds of wartime situation.

Although some countries including South Korea are stabilized, COVID-19 is still a worldwide pandemic.

As a president of Kukkiwon 9-Dan Federation, vice-president of Korea Taekwondo Association, and president of Gyeong Gi-Do Taekwondo Association, you came up with plans for multilateral support on ordinary Taekwondo schools under COVID-19 situation for over the last few months. How do you evaluate current situation?   

A2 – COVID-19 virus is a huge catastrophe of the humanity and the situation is very panicking. Especially, taekwondo Dojang are directly damaged from COVID-19. 

Our GTA (Gyeong Gi-Do Taekwondo Association) is the biggest local association in Korea. While Seoul Taekwondo Association is huge with 1,300 Taekwondo schools, we have 2,500 schools. After considerations, we held board of directors and general meeting.

To help Taekwondo schools, we prepared and distributed disinfectants worth 100,000 won with association operating expense. Then, as Taekwondo school members went through tough times, we supported total of 1.5 billion won, 500,000 won for 2,500 Taekwondo schools and 70 instructors in cash. Each instructor delivered words of appreciation to association. Although such support won’t be a big help, I hope the support mentally helped Taekwondo schools and instructors.

Q3 – Taekwondo schools are expected to experience severe financial difficulties due to COVID-19. Do you have measures for such financial difficulties?

A3- COVID-19 situation led to poor national economy. For instance, some parents l

G..M Gyung-duk Kim (WTU)

ost their job and went through economic pressure. Also, as students stay home for a long time, they easily get lazy. As a result, starting Taekwondo training again might be annoying and boring. In response, we are currently reviewing on some of the measures.

When COVID-19 first started, we continued various events while other groups didn’t. As Taekwondoists, we weren’t afraid of COVID-19. We pushed forward events by preparing for prevention of disease thoroughly under the unbending Taekwondo spirit. However, the government recommended on stopping all events and we had to cancel all events.  

Now, as COVID-19 situation is getting better, we are visiting some of associations for Taekwondo test and holding Taekwondo test for 4dan ~ 5 dan at training center located in our GTA building’s 4th floor. I was also there all day long. Taekwondo schools first need to stand up again. Therefore, we must prepare well-organized measures and have confidence. Our association is showing that COVID-19 can be prevented by handling with the situation properly.

Meanwhile, we made and distributed 13 videos for training at home and this brought remarkable sensation. Now, it’s time to take direct actions in off-line. In the past, I was running my own Taekwondo school and many children came to Taekwondo school after watching an animation cartoon named Robot Taekwon V. As a vice-president of KTA and president of Kukkiwon Taekwondo 9-Dan Federation,

I suggested Taekwondo groups such as KKW, KTA, and WT to invest budget on making a fun Taekwondo animation for children. Then, I suggested on activating traditional Taekwondo instead of match-based Taekwondo through home training. Our GTA has videos and textbooks for Taekwondo and they are the manuals for beginners and high-rank holders. As a homeland of Taekwondo, we plan to distribute these videos around the world through YouTube.

Q4. Before finishing the interview, please send words of hope and support to Taekwondo school instructors and Taekwondo families around the world.

A4- Dear Taekwondo families! I am aware that the situation is tough. As a prominent figure in Taekwondo-field, I am spending days and nights to think about how to help Taekwondoists in this unprecedented situation.

Furthermore, other Taekwondo institutes such as KTA, KKw, TPF, and Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism are also seriously considering over the current situation. There is a saying that “Two Heads Are Better Than One”. Taekwondo instructors, presidents of Taekwondo associations, KTA, KKW, TPF, and WT will work together to examine and research on how to handle this COVID-19 situation and prevent recurrence.

When COVID-19 situation ends, we will hold a public hearing and prepare for countermeasures. Hang in there and don’t forget that companions, instructors, and others related to Taekwondo are paying attention closely. Thank you.   

Thank you for your warm words. I sincerely hope for your wellness and I will finish the interview here.

"This was WTU reporter Asemgul from Gyeong Gi-Do Taekwondo Association"

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Q1-您好，金慶德会长！百忙之中接受采访非常感谢，首先请问您的健康状态如何？

A1-年纪大了点，不过还是很健康。

Q2-从去年12月开始的疫情，已经演变为全球性大流行病，仿佛身在战时环境。

只有包含韩国等少数国家目前处在可控范围。

您以国技院九段会会长、韩国跆拳道协会副会长、京畿道跆拳道协会会长身份在过去的几个月多次提出针对一线道馆的扶持政策方面的建议，针对现状您如何评价？

A2-新型冠状病毒的流行是场灾难，所以非常困惑，其中跆拳道馆受到的损失更为巨大。

京畿道协会是韩国最大的地方协会。首尔也很大有1300多个道馆，但京畿道有2500多家道馆。在多方努力下，经过理事会和总会的批准向每个会员道馆提供价值十万韩币的消毒液，但是发现道馆经营遇到苦难后，再向2500个道观河70多名竞技教练员提供了现金50万韩币的支援总额高达15亿韩币。也受到广大教练员们的好评和感谢，可能只是杯水车薪但从精神层面上给了他们很大的鼓舞。

© 金慶德会长(WTU)

Q3-可预期的未来跆拳道馆将长期处于经营困难，对此有什么对策吗？

A3-因为疫情很多家长们遇到的经济困难可想而知，加上长期的休学让孩子们也变得更松散，这些情况在重新恢复训练后可能会造成很大阻力。对此我们也制定了几个政策和对应方案正在考虑当中。

疫情发生初期我们还是举行很多活动，其他团体都没有进行。跆拳道人惧怕新病毒可以吗？我们可是有着百折不屈的跆拳道精神，通过进行完善的防疫措施下举行了部分活动。但最终按照政府的建议所有活动不定期全部取消了。

随着疫情的控制几个市郡协会也举行了考核活动和道协会也在四楼举行了4~5段考核活动，我本人也是每天都在协会办公室办公。通过这种方式让一线道馆先恢复经营，相关扶持政策也跟上的话道馆经营活动应该能上正规也给馆长和社会给与信心。

在这期间拍摄和推广了能在家中训练的十三篇视频获得了相当的好评。现在是从线上转到线下的时候了。从前我自己开馆的时候通过播放跆拳机器人V的动画片丰富了课程。好多孩子很喜欢这个动画片，通过它的播放很多孩子开始练习跆拳道。所以我向国技院、韩国跆协、跆拳道振兴财团、世台联等组织建议拍摄新的跆拳道推广动画片。然后通过道馆训练增强武道跆拳道的内容，对此我们道协会已经能制作了相关教材和视频。内容从初学者到高段位的教学内容都有涉及到，作为跆拳道宗主国计划通过在线视频方式向全球进行普及。

Q4-最后，讲一下对一线跆拳道馆长们和全球跆拳道从业者们的期望和鼓励。

A4-各位跆拳道从业者们现在所经历的痛苦，本人也深感同受。所以一直想怎么能给大家提供克服困难的帮助。

不仅仅是我，韩跆协、国技院、跆拳道振兴财团、韩国文体部等针对疫情所带来的影响深表痛心。俗话说的好众人拾柴火焰高，通过结合各位馆长意见和行政层面的共同努力，应该能克服当前所遭受到的前所未有的困难。

等疫情结束后将通过听证会研究制定相关政策法规。各位在这困难时期更要有信心，大家周边还

 有很多为大家加油鼓劲的前辈、老师、政府相关职员们，大家加油！

(*中文翻译. 李京锡>跆拳道公认五段，WT品势国际裁判，国家职业资格鉴定考评员及培训师，国技院三级师范，国技院品段考核三级考核委员。 履职过中跆协会员部业务代理公司，负责运营过第一代Lajast+大道+KPNP电子护具在中国区的运营及技术支持。

중국어 번역: 이경석(Mr. Li Jing Xi)태권도 공인 5단, WT 품새국제 심판, 중국국가직업 검증테스트 심사관 및 교육관, 국기원 3급 지도자 자격증, 국기원 승품단 3급 심사위원, 전 중국태권도협회 에이전시 회사 근무(라저스트ㆍ대도ㆍ케피앤피 전자호구)중국내 경기 운영 팀장.)

▲   © 赛美记者 (WTU)

'感谢会长接受采访，祝您身体健康，今天的采访到此结束。

以上由WTU 赛美记者的采访报道。'>

리포터>Asemgul(아셈굴)

영상> 촬영.폅집: 이한우 기자

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