Charity Walking jointly promoted by WT, GCS International

The 2018 Jeju World Peace Walkathon was concluded in a resounding success on the “World Peace Island” of Jeju on July 17, 2018.

The inaugural charity walking event, which was held at the Jeju Seaside Art Center in Jeju City, was jointly promoted by World Taekwondo and GCS International, a Seoul-headquartered, UN-recognized NGO.

Under the slogan “Peace is More Precious than Triumph,” the walkathon drew hundreds of people, mostly athletes and officials attending the 2018 Jeju Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships, which kicks off on July 18 for a week-long event.

The walkathon was intended to raise funds, which will be disbursed to orphans, reformatory inmates and victims of natural disasters in developing countries. Walkers were requested to pay a participation fee of 10,000 Korean won (U.S.$10) toward this cause, though it was optional.

After a 30-minute opening ceremony at the Jeju Seaside Art Center, most of the participants joined a 2.3km seaside walking from the center to the famous tourist attraction of Yongduam Rock via the Yongyeon Bridge.

After introduction of VIPs, there was a progress report on World Taekwondo’s humanitarian activities by Seok-jae Kang, senior executive for social responsibility of World Taekwondo.

The opening ceremony also featured a taekwondo demonstration by about 40 senior Jeju citizens, whose average age was 80.

The event was organized by the Jeju Taekwondo Association, the GCS Korea Jeju Jungang Club, and the 2018 Jeju Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships Organizing Committee.

Among the dignitaries attending the opening ceremony were WT President Chungwon Choue; Lee Kyu-seok, a WT vice president and president of the Asia Taekwondo Union; Choi Chang-shin, president of the Korea Taekwondo Association; Moon Seong-kyu, president of the Jeju Taekowndo Association and president of the 2018 Jeju Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships Organizing Committee; Jung Kook-hyun, new secretary general of the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation; Kim In-seon, a member of the WT Council; and Laziz Khasanov, new president of the Uzbekistan Taekwondo Federation and Wu Yang-ping, new president of the Chinese Taipei Amateur Taekwondo Association.

Also attending the ceremony were Shim Ho-myung, president of GCS International Korea Chapter; Shin Jin-ho, president of the GCS Korea Jeju Jungang Club; Huh Jong, vice president of GCS International; Han Seung-yeon, a member of the GCS International board of trustees; and Buddhist Monk Jiam of Cheongam Temple in Yeosu, who is a 5th Dan taekwondo black belt holder.

“I am pleased to see that, here today, we have so many athletes and officials from around the world, who will be participating in the 2018 Jeju Korea Open,” said WT President Choue in his opening remarks.

Choue said, “To fulfill its social responsibility, World Taekwondo will more actively carry out humanitarian projects to empower the powerless around the world. We are doing it through our in-house ‘Taekwondo Cares’ program. We are doing this through our Swiss-based charity, the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation. And we will also be doing it hand in hand with GCS International and others international NGOs.” “Taekwondo is a combat sport, but here, on the island of world peace, it is an art of friendship and world peace.”

Choi Chang-shin, president of the Korea Taekwondo Association, said in his congratulatory remarks that “World Taekwondo is doing its best to contribute to the mankind through the sport of taekwondo by running its in-house ‘Taekwondo Cares’ program and the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation.”

“WT’s efforts are drawing positive evaluations from among the international sports community. In this regard, this 2018 Jeju Walkathon has a special meaning as it is being held on the ‘world peace island’ of Jeju,” Choi said.

Shim Ho-myung, president of GCS International Korea Chapter, said in his congratulatory remarks that “GCS International hopes to continue this charity walking together with World Taekwondo every year on the ‘world peace island’ of Jeju.”

Moon Seong-kyu, president of the Jeju Taekowndo Association and president of the 2018 Jeju Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships Organizing Committee, said in his welcoming speech, “We welcome all the athletes and officials attending the 2018 Jeju Korea Open to this 2018 Jeju World Peace Walkathon.” “We wish all the participants in this walkathon good memories and best luck.”

At  the end of the opening ceremony, Kim In-seon, a member of the WT Council; Han Seung-yeon, a member of the GCS International board of trustees; and Shin Jin-ho, president of the GCS Korea Jeju Jungang Club, together with two Uzbek female athletes and two Nepalese female athletes, recited three times in Korean and English the slogan of the event, “Peace is More Precious than Triumph.”

 

 

Participants in 208 Jeju World Peace Walkathon Pose for Group Photo

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue poses with Shim Ho-myung, president of GCS International Korea Chapter and other participants in the 2018 Jeju World Peace Walkathon shortly after the closing of the opening ceremony at the Jeju Seaside Art Center on the ‘World Peace Island’ of Jeju on July 17, 2018.

 

WT President Speaks at 2018 Jeju World Peace Walkathon

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue delivers an opening speech during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Jeju World Peace Walkathon at the Jeju Seaside Art Center on the ‘World Peace Island’ of Jeju on July 17, 2018.

 

KTA President Speaks at 2018 Jeju World Peace Walkathon

Choi Chang-shin, president of the Korea Taekwondo Association, delivers a congratulatory speech during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Jeju World Peace Walkathon at the Jeju Seaside Art Center on the ‘World Peace Island’ of Jeju on July 17, 2018.

 

GCS Korea President Speaks at 2018 Jeju World Peace Walkathon

Shim Ho-myung, president of the GCS International Korea Chapter, delivers a congratulatory speech during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Jeju World Peace Walkathon at the Jeju Seaside Art Center on the ‘World Peace Island’ of Jeju on July 17, 2018.

 

2018 Jeju Korea Open Organizing Committee Head Speaks at 2018 Jeju World Peace Walkathon

Moon Seong-kyu, president of the Jeju Taekwondo Association and president of the 2018 Jeju Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships Organizing Committee, delivers a welcoming speech during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Jeju World Peace Walkathon at the Jeju Seaside Art Center on the ‘World Peace Island’ of Jeju on July 17, 2018.

 

VIPs Pose with Slogan Banner of 2018 Jeju World Peace Walkathon 

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue and other VIPs pose with the slogan banner of the 2018 Jeju World Peace Walkathon during the opening ceremony at the Jeju Seaside Art Center on the ‘World Peace Island’ of Jeju on July 17, 2018.

 

Participants in 208 Jeju World Peace Walkathon Walk

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue and other participants in the 2018 Jeju World Peace Walkathon start walking a 2,3km course from the Jueju Seaside Art Center to the Yongduam Rock on Jeju Island on July 17, 2018.

 

Participants in 208 Jeju World Peace Walkathon Pose for Group Photo at Yongduam Rock

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue and other participants in the 2018 Jeju World Peace Walkathon pose at the Yongduam Rock, the finish point of a 2.3km charity walking course on Jeju Island on July 17, 2018.