World Taekwondo

World Taekwondo (WT) is the international federation for the Olympic form of Taekwondo. It was established on 28 May 1973 as the World Taekwondo Federation at an inaugural meeting held at the Kukkiwon with 35 representatives.^[1]

Olympic recognition #

The International Olympic Committee recognized the federation on 17 July 1980. On 4 September 1994 Taekwondo was adopted as an official sport of the 2000 Summer Olympics. See Taekwondo at the Olympics.^[1]

Name #

In June 2017 the World Taekwondo Federation was renamed World Taekwondo, partly because its former abbreviation clashed with an internet slang term.^[1]

Membership and leadership #

As of 2026 it has 215 national member associations, of which 214 are active and one is suspended. Choue Chung-won has led the federation since 2004.^[1]

Relationship to other bodies #

WT works closely with the Kukkiwon, and it is distinct from the International Taekwon-Do Federation and the groups that claim its heritage. Competition rules are summarized under Sparring and protective equipment.