The 2019 GCS International World Peace Walkathon was successfully held in Portland, Oregon in the United States on June 18, 2019.

The 2019 GCS World Peace Walkathon, the first official event by the newly inaugurated GCS Portland Chapter together with GCS International, drew about 300 people, mostly participants in the 112th Kyorugi International Referee Seminar & 126th Kyorugi International Referee Refresher Course. In cooperation with World Taekwondo Pan America, World Taekwondo organizes the international referee course, which started on June 18 and continues until June 25 at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Portland.

Participants in the walkathon, wearing a T-shirt with “I Love GCS” wording, walked about 20 minutes from the Double Tree Hilton Hotel to nearby Holladay Park, where they made a group photo with the GCS slogan banner. The GCS slogan is “Peace is More Precious than Triumph.”

Among the dignitaries attending the walkathon were Grand Master Ji Ho Choi, a World Taekwondo vice president and president of World Taekwondo Pan America; three WT Council members of Mr. Anthony Ferguson, Ms. Maria Lourdes de Veer and Mr. Inseon Kim; and Grand Master Jay Kyun Shin.

Also on hand at the walkathon were GCS International Secretary General Dr. Seok-jae Kang and Dr. Selma Li, the first president of the GCS Portland Chapter. She was officially approved as the inaugural president of the GCS Portland Chapter in an inauguration ceremony at the Oregon Convention Center on June 16.

Proceeds from the walkathon will be used to help support the disadvantaged children in developing countries, such as Nepal, Cambodia and Sri Lanka.

Together with GCS International, the GCS International Portland, U.S.A. Chapter plans to organize several walkathons and fund-raising events annually.