Gwangju University Hosts Large-Scale Taekwondo Tournament in Jiangxi Province, China, Drawing Attention

Gwangju University, an 'Education Internationalization Competency Certified University,' is gaining attention for successfully hosting a large-scale Taekwondo tournament in Jiangxi Province, China, aimed at globalizing university education and promoting Taekwondo.

Gwangju University held the '1st Jiangxi Province Korea-China Youth Taekwondo Friendship Exchange Tournament' over two days from the 2nd to the 3rd at the Chongchang Hongwang Sports Center in Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China.

To ensure the successful hosting of the inaugural tournament, Gwangju University President Kim Dong-jin, who visited Jiangxi Province with more than ten students and faculty members, stated, "I hope that Gwangju University and Jiangxi Province, China, united through Taekwondo by breaking down the barriers of borders and language, will continue to maintain active global partnerships in various fields." He added, "I hope that the Chinese youth, who will lead the future society, will embody the spirit of Taekwondo to cultivate a sound mind and healthy body and grow up properly."

The tournament, organized to enhance friendship and expand exchanges between Gwangju University and Jiangxi Province, attracted about 300 youths interested in Taekwondo, including elementary, middle, high school, and university students from Jiangxi Province, creating a great atmosphere. They competed in two categories: Poomsae and Sparring, engaging in friendly competition.

Winners in each category were honored with the prestigious opportunity to be selected for the Korean Taekwondo exchange competition representative team, and medals and certificates were awarded to the top three in individual, mixed, and team events.

The exhibition matches featuring Gwangju University Taekwondo team players captivated the eyes of aspiring Chinese Taekwondo practitioners.

Five players, including team captain Lee Sa-young (4th year), Lee Jeong-min (3rd year), Jo Jin-gi and Kim Hye-reum (both 2nd year), and Kim Bo-bae (1st year), who accompanied the visit to Jiangxi Province, served as Taekwondo ambassadors by showcasing the outstanding skills of the Taekwondo homeland and the excellence of Korea’s traditional martial arts through the event stage.

The successful hosting of the tournament also highlighted Gwangju University’s extensive global network.

The China Nanchang Institute of Technology (Chairman Gu So-rim, President Beom Eon-bin), which played a midwife role in organizing the tournament, is none other than Gwangju University’s global partnership agreement partner.

Since establishing their first connection through an academic exchange agreement on July 11, 2022, Nanchang Institute of Technology has made no hesitation in traveling back and forth to Gwangju multiple times to facilitate close practical exchanges and provide various support necessary for tournament preparation, enabling Gwangju University’s advanced educational programs to be disseminated in Jiangxi Province, China, through Taekwondo, Korea’s national sport.

This also represents a significant achievement in demonstrating Gwangju University’s international educational capabilities.

Gwangju University was selected as a certified university for degree programs and language training courses in the Ministry of Education’s '2023 Education Internationalization Competency Certification System (IEQAS)' evaluation, officially recognizing its global educational competency. As a certified university, it will engage in overseas advanced university education participation, expand sisterhood ties, and conduct international exchange activities until February 2026.

In this regard, Gwangju University has visited Vietnam, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, China, and other countries consecutively this year, dedicating itself to the role of a lifelong education institution that transcends regional and national boundaries through exchanges with educational institutions, economic organizations, and companies from various countries.

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