Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

An opportunity of harmony: 2023 ROK-US Friendship Taekwondo Tournament takes place

- Held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the ROK-US alliance…the two countries' military taekwondo strengthens harmony and confirms comradeship

On June 8, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the ROK-US alliance, the 2023 ROK-US Friendship Taekwondo Tournament took place. Co-organized by the US Eighth Army, the Foreigner's Taekwondo Cultural Association, and Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters, the tournament was held at Camp Casey in Dongducheon.

The ROK-US Friendship Taekwondo Tournament, which first took place as a friendly competition between the ROK VI Corps and the US 2nd Infantry Division in 2003, has since expanded to become an "opportunity of harmony." It now includes participation from corps-level units, the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, and serves as a platform for Korean and US soldiers to foster friendships through Taekwondo.

In the tournament, over 1,000 athletes from ten teams from the Korea Armed Forces (I, II, V, and VII Corps, Capital Corps, Capital Defense Command, Special Warfare Command, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps), one team from the US Eighth Army, and ten regiment-level units under the US Eighth Army participated. They competed in categories such as combat sparring, high jump kick, break, speedy kick, and team poomsae. The overall title went to the V Corps (second overall: II Corps, third overall: Navy).

The ROK-US Friendship Taekwondo Tournament served as an opportunity to strengthen the friendship and unity of soldiers from both countries through the sport of Taekwondo. Moreover, it reaffirmed their status as comrades-in-arms who can rely on each other on the battlefield and share their triumphs and hardships.