Will the Front-Runner Win or Will There Be a Last-Minute Upset in the Race for the Presidency of the Asian Taekwondo Union? All Eyes on the Outcome

The global fervor for Taekwondo is heating up the lakeside city, Chuncheon.

For the 3,000 athletes from 50 countries participating in the World Taekwondo Culture Festival and the Korea Open, the heat wave seems like nothing more than a refreshing breeze.

Meanwhile, the real heat appears to be coming from outside the competition venues, where the election for the President of the Asian Taekwondo Union (ATU) is taking place. 

Candidates Sang-jin Kim and Jin-bang Yang are locked in a fierce battle for votes among ATU executives who have come from across Asia. 

The election is set for the 24th.

So far, the race has been extremely close. 

In the early stages, both candidates leveraged their name recognition to gain ground.

However, as the election draws near, there is growing analysis suggesting that Kim, who has been acknowledged for his substantial contributions as vice president, is pulling ahead.

Notably, his "ATU Vision Project" is said to be gaining traction and helping him lead the narrative.

One well-known domestic sports media outlet has already reported that "overall, Kim is expected to lead by a margin of over ten votes." Still, both camps are confidently predicting victory.

As the final push for votes intensifies, attention is focused on whether Kim will maintain the bandwagon effect—a phenomenon where overwhelming early support sways public opinion toward a candidate—or whether Yang will pull off a dramatic comeback.

Experts agree that the key factor will be where the voting delegates’ expectations and aspirations for the future of the Union lie.

First, there is a strong desire for a president who can elevate the stature of the ATU to the level of the AFC (Asian Football Confederation).

The critical issue is whether the Union will be led by an administrator with deep Taekwondo knowledge and international experience or by someone with the financial strength, organizational capacity, and regional integration ability to unify the entire Asian continent under one effective system.

Second, much like the business world, the globalization of Taekwondo must be accompanied by grassroots expansion and technical development through national Taekwondo associations—eventually connecting directly to local dojangs (Taekwondo gyms).

From this perspective, many experts believe that Taekwondo in Asia has already entered a mature phase of globalization.

The next ATU President must excel at localization, the process of adapting the "product" of Taekwondo to specific regional markets.

While internationalization means developing products that can be easily used by customers from many different countries, localization means customizing those products to fit a specific market.

A great example is McDonald’s in India, which opened meat-free stores tailored to local dietary customs, avoiding beef and pork. 

While maintaining its global brand identity, McDonald’s localized its offerings—a textbook example of localization.

Third, no matter how great the ideas or vision, the ability to secure funding and attract support is critical for implementation.

A closer look at national Taekwondo associations in Asia shows that the support of the founding country (South Korea) is essential for the effective operation of those associations.
From this angle, it is up to the leaders of the various national Taekwondo associations to decide who should be the next ATU president.

Former President Kyuseok Lee spent many years establishing a solid foundation for Taekwondo across Asia through promotion and technical support. 

Now, the new president must help those roots blossom into full bloom.

This is a time for leadership that embraces the philosophy of "Yeo Si Gu Jin" (與時俱進)—to advance with the times, adapt flexibly, and respond creatively to the changing world.

Whether Kim rides the momentum to victory or Yang stages a last-minute turnaround, the final decision rests in the hands of the voting delegates.

The president of World Children Taekwondo Union(WCTU)/  sang-gi Rhee