Kim Kwan-young, governor of North Jeolla Province and Kim Sang-jin, the new chairman of the Asian Taekwondo Union  met to discuss practical measures to expand the Asaa Taekwondo culture centered on North Jeolla Province and Muju County. 

Kim Sang-jin, chairman of the Asian Federation, paid a courtesy visit to Kim Kwan-young, governor of North Jeolla Province, at the Seoul headquarters of North Jeolla Province, located in National Assembly-daero, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 13th, and discussed pending issues such as the relocation of the federation's headquarters secretariat to Muju Taekwondo Center. 

At the meeting, North Jeolla Province Governor Kim Kwan-young promised active support for the relocation of the Asian Federation headquarters to Muju-gun. Governor Kim said, "We ask for active implementation so that the actual transfer of functions can be made beyond the simple transfer of office work of the Union headquarters." 

Kim Sang-jin, chairman of the Asian Union, said, "Since taking office in September, we have completed the preliminary process for the relocation of Muju-gun headquarters through a board of directors. We plan to finalize the relocation of the headquarters with the deliberation of the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation's board of directors and approval from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism next month." 

There were also suggestions for holding international competitions and strengthening training and educational programs. Rhee Sang-gi, special advisor of the Asian Taekwondo Union and director of the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation, explained, "It is imperative to hold an international competition representing Asia, which accounts for 40% of the world's taekwondo culture population." 

(From left) Asian Taekwondo Union Advisory Committee Chairman Lee Go-beom, Asian Taekwondo Union Chairman Kim Sing-jin, North Jeolla Province Governor Kim Kwan-young and Asia Taekwondo Union Special Adviser Rhee Sang-gi pose for a photo/ Photo = Courtesy of Asian Taekwondo Union.
Jeonbuk also emphasized the importance of a strategic approach to revitalizing the inbound through the spread of Asian taekwondo culture. Special advisor Rhee Sang-gi added, "As the Asian Union has many top GDP countries, customized training programs should also be prepared to connect with incentive tourism from these countries and local global companies." 

In response, North Jeolla Province Gov. Kim Kwan-young said, "We will make active efforts to attract international competitions hosted by the ATU to Muju in consultation with Muju County and other countries." He also said, "We will consider providing support for Asian taekwondo fighters to visit Jeonbuk in a smooth manner." 

We will actively consider training and education programs to be actively operated in Muju through the establishment of a global Taekwondo talent training center, said Kim Kwan-young, governor of Jeollabuk-do. "We also ask for continued interest and cooperation from the ATU on the establishment of Muju-gun by the second country origin." 

The Asian Taekwondo Union (ATU) is an international sports administration organization that represents 44 Asian member countries, including Korea, China, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and Asia. 

Earlier in September, the Asian Federation elected Kim Sang-jin as its new chairman through direct voting by delegates and executive members of each country. Since then, the new chairman has decided to relocate the federation's headquarters to Muju, North Jeolla Province, citing the synergy of the Muju-gun Taekwon City and the establishment of a new era for expanding Asian taekwondo culture. 

Meanwhile, Kim Kwan-young, governor of North Jeolla Province, Kim Sing-jin, chairman of the Asian Union, Rhee Sang-gi, special advisor to the Asian Taekwondo Union (director of the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation), and Lee Go-beom, chairman of the Asian Taekwondo Union (director of the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation), and officials from North Jeolla Province attended the meeting.