GCS International held its first video conference meeting with representatives of GCS chapters in the Pan American region on May 22, 2020.

Arranged by the GCS Portland, USA Chapter, the video conference meeting attracted GCS International President Chungwon Choue, GCS International Secretary General Seok-jae Kang and over 20 representatives from 14 Pan American countries.

Among the participants were GCS national chapter presidents and secretaries general of Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Dr. Selma Li, president of the GCS Portland, USA Chapter. Also on hand were president-appointees of GCS chapters of Aruba, Chile, Curacao, and Trinidad & Tobago. Grand Master Ji-ho Choi, who serves as World Taekwondo Vice President, WT Pan America President and GCS International President’s special advisor for Pan America, and Mr. Michel Idiaquez, president of the GCS International Honduras Chapter, attended the video conferencing at the end of the meeting.

“I wish everyone home and safe in this global COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has shown that we are all one people. Humanity as a whole has suffered. To those who have lost a loved one, I offer my most sincere condolences,” said GCS President Choue at the start of the meeting, which lasted about one hour from 10 a.m. on May 22, Korean time.

Dr. Choue said, “In these unprecedented and challenging times, it is normal to only see darkness. But we need to stay positive and find the light at the end of this dark tunnel. Or, we can choose to be the light for others. I encourage all of you to make a positive difference to the less privileged.”

“I therefore welcome the initiative by the GCS Portland, USA Chapter and the U.S. World Class Taekwondo Association to organize the COVID-19 Virtual International Taekwondo Championships,” he said. “A portion of the proceeds from the Virtual Taekwondo Championships will be allocated to the GCS mission of goodwill, cooperation and service-dedication. It is an innovative way to actively help those in need in a safe environment.”

“This is what taekwondo is about – to face adversity with courage and perseverance. World Taekwondo is also looking into organizing our own online poomsae events this year,” said Dr. Choue, who also serves as president of World Taekwondo. “We need to be ready to chape the post-COVID world with our shared GCS values – leadership, service and diversity,” Choue said.

At the virtual conferencing, Dr. Selma Li, president of GCs Portland introduced the upcoming Virtual International Taekwondo Championships scheduled for June 4-7, 2020.

“As host of the COVID-19 Virtual International Taekwondo Championships, I am delighted to offer sponsorship to each of the 44 GCS chapters, to allow up to 10 less privileged competitors to participate in this historical virtual experience,” Dr. Li said. “I wish to encourage all GCS chapter presidents to take advantage of this opportunity to shed light and hope to your athletes during this difficult time, when all competitive sports have come to a halt.”

She said, “A portion of all participation proceeds will be donated to GCS Chapters that are in dire shortage of basic necessities, food supplies, fresh water, etc. Your participation and contributions are instrumental to our abilities to collaborate and deliver goodwill, cooperation, service at this time of great needs.”