WTF Launches Reform Committee

By Cho Jin-seo
Staff Reporter, The Korea Times

The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) has launched a reform committee to make the Korean-originated martial art more interesting and action-packed, the organization announced on Tuesday.The 11-member committee, led by WTF vice president and IOC member Nat Indrapana of Thailand, will hold it first meeting Dec. 7-11 in Seoul and will review the rules of the game as well as the administration and marketing policies.

The WTF also said it sent a questionnaire to 177 member associations last month and the responses from all over the world will be used as references in developing the reform policies.

“Taekwondo is in a transitional period following a change in WTF leadership,’’ WTF president Choue Chung-won said. “The WTF aims to transform itself into a more global, professional and efficient international federation, in line with the IOC’s ongoing reform efforts.’’

Since the Athens Olympics this summer, Taekwondo has been criticized by the media that the matches are relatively boring and the refereeing is somewhat subjective when compared to other Olympic sports.

In a press conference in September, Choue said the WTF would consider allowing the use of punches in the game and giving additional points to spin-kicks, which require more technique. He also said the WTF has been talking with sports apparel company Nike to develop electronic devices to help the judging.

Choue was elected president last June to fill in for former president Kim Un-yong, whose tenure ends in April. Kim, founder of the WTF, resigned in January because of a bribery scandal.