Is It a Performance or a Musical... Taekwondo Martial Arts Expanding Globally

New Cultural Industry Combining Traditional and Modern Elements
Flagship Work 'K-KICK' Performance at Myeongbo Art Hall on the 8th

Taekwondo performing arts are sometimes like musicals and sometimes like Taekwondo performances. With dazzling media art and an engaging story added, those who see it once quickly fall under its spell. The representative work of Taekwondo martial arts, ‘K-KICK,’ will meet audiences three times a day, year-round, starting from the 8th at Myeongbo Art Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul. ‘K-KICK’ is evaluated to have both commercial appeal and artistic value by combining traditional elements such as Taekwondo, hanbok, and Hangul with modern elements like fantasy and visual aesthetics.

Set in the virtual space of Bonghwang Village, the stage production incorporates fantasy to present Korea’s 5,000-year history, delivering dynamic visual performances. In particular, by utilizing projection mapping on all four sides of the stage, it pursues spectacular visuals that create an atmosphere as if the audience is actually traveling through Bonghwang Village within the work.

The martial artists of K-KICK (professional actors specializing in martial arts performances) are not only equipped with the highest Taekwondo techniques but are also experts who have trained for over five years based on the breath and acting skills of gymnastics, acrobatics, and Korean dance. Martial artists grow through continuous training to handle acting, action, and more within a stable salary system, making them a new category of acting professionals. This is why they can present the most Korean-style performances.

The person who pioneered the new genre called Taekwondo martial arts is Kim Yongjae, CEO of Y-KICK Entertainment (Ph.D. in Martial Arts Physical Education from Yongin University). Since 2008, he has participated in planning Taekwondo performances and staged thousands of Taekwondo shows domestically and internationally. CEO Kim said, “We will take the lead in creating and spreading new Korean culture and enhancing the competitiveness of the Korean cultural industry,” adding, “Taekwondo martial arts is an industry where the added value of fusion shines.”

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