The 6th International Sports Taekwondo Conference, hosted by the World Taekwondo (WT), concluded successfully on July 5 at the Taekwondo Center in Muju, Jeollabuk-do.
Focusing on the theme of "Innovating Sports Taekwondo and Industry Development Strategies in the AI Era," the conference attracted over 300 participants, including sports and AI experts, researchers, university students, and Taekwondo instructors and practitioners. Notably, the event emphasized the importance of exploring practical collaboration models between academic research and the sports industry through a partnership with the Korean Society of Sports Management.
In his opening remarks, WT President Chungwon Choue stated, "This year marks the 6th edition of the International Sports Taekwondo Conference in Jeollabuk-do. This signifies that the conference has established itself as a stable international platform for ongoing discussions about the future development of sports Taekwondo." He added, "WT is pioneering an AI project in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), making it the first international sports federation to do so. AI technology will serve as a new turning point for the innovation and advancement of sports Taekwondo."
Choue expressed hope that, based on the experiences and achievements accumulated over the past six years, sports Taekwondo would evolve into a global sports content that creates a new sports culture and industrial ecosystem through the integration of advanced technology.
On the first day, discussions centered on utilizing AI for the innovation of sports Taekwondo and industry development. Professor Russell Ahn from the University of California, Berkeley, presented on "Next-Generation Global Development Directions for Taekwondo Using AI Technology," while Professor Han Nam-hee from Korea University proposed the "Industrial Growth Potential of Taekwondo in the Era of Virtual Sports."
Additionally, WT Broadcasting Director John Cullen discussed "Innovative Approaches to Sports Broadcasting and Viewing Experiences Using AI Technology," and WT Technical Director Kayvan Shariyatmadar explained the current status of developing AI-based judging support systems for Olympic and Paralympic Taekwondo events. Alejandro Merino, the IOC's AI Chief, also provided insights into the current and future strategies for integrating AI technology with the Olympic movement.
On the second day, the "Sports Taekwondo AI Academic Research Presentation Competition" and the "University Student Sports Taekwondo AI Idea Contest" were held.
During the academic research presentation competition, seven research papers were presented, covering topics such as digital transformation strategies in Taekwondo, AI-based referee systems, and match data analysis. Research focusing on enhancing fairness in sports Taekwondo and expanding the industrial ecosystem received high praise.
This year marked the inaugural university student AI idea contest, with 13 teams participating. The contest showcased innovative proposals for future sports Taekwondo industrial models and technological advancements, including smart sensor utilization, 3D analysis systems, and platforms addressing the challenges of an aging society.
Professor Jeong Byeong-ki from Keimyung University, who oversaw the conference, remarked, "This conference was a significant opportunity to concretely confirm the potential for integrating sports Taekwondo with AI technology from both academic and industrial perspectives. It is particularly meaningful that the IOC, WT, and researchers and students from around the world gathered to discuss the innovative directions for the future of sports Taekwondo."
He further noted, "Sports Taekwondo is evolving beyond a mere competitive sport into a future sports industry platform that integrates AI, digital technology, and cultural content. I hope this conference serves as a new starting point for enhancing the global competitiveness of sports Taekwondo and expanding international cooperation networks."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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