Seongnam World Taekwondo Hanmadang, Pre-Event Gift '3-Character Donation' Controversy Leads to Cancellation

2023 Seongnam World Taekwondo Hanmadang Poster

The '2023 Seongnam World Taekwondo Hanmadang,' opening on the 21st in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, has become embroiled in a controversy over 'third-party donation activities' related to the distribution of gifts at the eve event.

The Seongnam World Taekwondo Hanmadang Organizing Committee had planned to distribute 3,000 portable phone batteries as souvenirs on a first-come, first-served basis to attendees at the eve event on the 20th. However, the Election Commission indicated that the distribution of these souvenirs might violate Article 115 (Restriction on Third-Party Donation Activities) of the Public Official Election Act, leading to the cancellation of the giveaway.

A Seongnam city official explained, "We planned to provide portable phone batteries to citizens attending the eve event on a first-come, first-served basis, but since the Election Commission responded that there was a possibility of violating the Public Official Election Act, we decided not to provide the gifts."

Meanwhile, the eve event will feature the tournament ambassadors Nataju (Taekwondo trot singer), Lee Yuri (actor), and Lee Dongjun (former national Taekwondo athlete and actor), who will perform Taekwondo performances, dances, and collaborative shows to energize the event atmosphere.

This year's Seongnam World Taekwondo Hanmadang will be held from the 21st to the 24th at the Seongnam Indoor Gymnasium and Seongnam Sports Center. The tournament will host 4,500 Taekwondo practitioners from 57 countries competing in 13 events and 73 categories, including breaking, creative poomsae, and Taekwondo gymnastics.

Hosted by the Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Hanmadang had not been held for three years until last year due to the impact of COVID-19 since it was last held in 2019 in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province.

The opening ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. on the second day of the tournament, the 22nd, at the Seongnam Indoor Gymnasium. Performances will include trot singers, percussionists, dance groups, and the Kukkiwon Taekwondo demonstration team, featuring fusion national anthems and K-pop group dances.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.