TaeKwonDo Times

09/08/2026

A Word from Grandmaster Jung: Goodwill Tour

We started in 1991. Sixteen years later, in 2007, an 19-member North Korean Taekwondo Demonstration Team came to the United States for 17 days, visiting Los Angeles, San Francisco, Cedar Rapids, Louisville, and Atlanta.

There was a lot of success. A lot of people came and really enjoyed it.

In 2011, it was very successful also, with demonstrations in Boston, New York City, and the Philadelphia area. Many people came, and CNN covered the story in New York.

Now, this year...

I am not a politician. I am not a rich man. This is my last time.

North Korea, they want to come over here for another Goodwill Tour. We would like to invite the North Korean Women’s Soccer Team and ITF Taekwondo Demonstration Team to the United States.

This way, there is peace in the world.

Cultural and sports exchange is better than war.

I hope everybody will comment and share your opinion.

We wait with a big hand for you.

Thank you. 감사합니다!

Grandmaster Jung Woo-jin
President, TaeKwonDo Times

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

CULTURAL EXCHANGE IS BETTER THAN WAR! 🌎🥋

Remembering the historic 2007 and 2011 Taekwondo Goodwill Tours when Taekwondo brought people together across borders and cultures.

Friendship. Respect. Peace.



문화 교류는 전쟁보다 낫습니다! 🌎🥋

2007년과 2011년의 역사적인 태권도 친선 순회공연을 기억합니다. 태권도는 국경과 문화를 넘어 사람들을 하나로 이어주었습니다.

우정. 존중. 평화.

#태권도 #태권도타임스 #친선순회공연 #세계평화 #문화교류

Video footage courtesy of KBS (Korean Broadcasting System).

09/01/2026

CULTURAL EXCHANGE IS BETTER THAN WAR!!

In 2008, the New York Philharmonic made history through a meaningful cultural exchange performance in Pyongyang.

But one year earlier, in 2007, Taekwondo was already bringing Americans and North Koreans together. A 20-member North Korean Taekwondo demonstration team visited the United States for a historic Goodwill Tour, traveling to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Cedar Rapids, Louisville, and Atlanta. Thousands of people attended the demonstrations.

In 2011, another North Korean Taekwondo delegation returned to the United States for a second Goodwill Tour.

We are not politicians. We are athletes, martial artists, coaches, families, and fans. Sometimes the simplest way for people to grow closer is by coming together through something we can all enjoy and connect with.

Taekwondo did it. Music did it. Could soccer be next?⚽

The U.S. and North Korean women’s national soccer teams are both among the best teams in the world...

What if another Goodwill Tour could bring the two teams together on the same field? usnktkd.com

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

문화 교류가 전쟁보다 낫습니다!!

2008년, 뉴욕 필하모닉은 평양에서 열린 뜻깊은 문화 교류 공연을 통해 역사적인 순간을 만들었습니다.

하지만 그보다 1년 앞선 2007년, 태권도는 이미 미국과 북한 사람들을 하나로 이어주고 있었습니다. 북한 태권도 시범단 20명이 역사적인 친선 투어를 위해 미국을 방문하여 로스앤젤레스, 샌프란시스코, 시더래피즈, 루이빌, 애틀랜타를 순회했습니다. 수천 명의 사람들이 시범 공연을 관람했습니다.

2011년에는 또 다른 북한 태권도 대표단이 두 번째 친선 투어를 위해 다시 미국을 방문했습니다.

우리는 정치인이 아닙니다. 우리는 선수이고, 무도인이며, 지도자이고, 가족이자 팬입니다. 때로는 사람들이 서로 가까워지는 가장 단순한 방법은 우리가 함께 좋아하고 공감할 수 있는 것을 통해 만나는 것입니다.

태권도가 그렇게 했습니다. 음악도 그렇게 했습니다. 그렇다면 다음은 축구가 될 수 있을까요? ⚽

미국과 북한의 여자 축구 국가대표팀은 모두 세계 정상급 팀입니다...

또 한 번의 친선 투어를 통해 두 팀이 같은 경기장에서 만날 수 있다면 어떨까요?

08/26/2026

Celebrating 60 years of the ITF with this special anniversary edition. Honoring six decades of the art, connection, and promoting world peace. usnktkd.com

Explore the August 2026 special edition of TKD Times, celebrating 60 years of the International Taekwon-Do Federation. Featuring ITF history, General Choi Hong Hi, the Olympics, goodwill tours, power breaking, and Taekwon-Do around the world.

07/26/2026

After 35 years of teaching Taekwondo in the small rural town of English, Iowa (population 1,500), Jung's Taekwondo Dojang is now holding its grand opening, with many members of the Taekwondo family joining in the celebration.감사함니다.

07/23/2026

Animals and humans... it turns out animals like music, too

Trombone 1 - Alex YoungTrombone 2 - Michael DawsonTrombone 3 - Fa...

07/08/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5SJ4E4rnCo&t=138s

CNN's Richard Roth reports on a rare visit to New York by an elite ...

07/08/2026

Great News,
Tae Kwon Do times is in the works planning a 4th Goodwill tour for fall of 2026. We have had two previous Goodwill tours in 2007 and 2011. In 2008 we had the New York Philharmonic go to North Korea to play. These were history making events and we are hoping to make history again. We are in the beginning stages of this event. We are planning for this to take place at a few venues on the East coast. We are very excited and hope this will take place as we continue to promote world peace through Tae Kwon Do. We will continue to post updates as we go along. Thank You from everyone from the Tae Kwon Do times magazine.
usnktkd.com

07/08/2026

Let us look back at the fourth and final Goodwill Tour between North Korea and the U.S.
In 2007, a group of 19 people visited Los Angeles, San Francisco, Cedar Rapids (IA), Louisville (KY), and Atlanta, performing the North Korean national anthem for the first time. In return, a 120-member delegation from the New York Philharmonic visited North Korea in 2008 and performed the U.S. national anthem for the first time there. In 2011, the national anthems of both countries were performed again during visits to Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. Subsequently, summits between the leaders of North Korea and the U.S. took place.
This was a cultural exchange through Taekwondo; we are not politicians. I extended an invitatrion last year, and since they expressed a desire to come last month, I hope everything works out well. It was the final "Uniting The World Through Taekwondo" initiative. www.usnktkd.com