Kukkiwon is the World Taekwondo Headquarters and laid the groundwork for the global expansion of the martial art, holding the sport's inaugural World Championships and established the World Taekwondo Federation in 1973.

Their meeting coincided with the British delegation paying several visits to international partners, including WTF President Chungwon Choue at their offices in the South Korean capital. 

British Taekwondo President Adrian Tranter was accompanied by vice-president, Professor Lim Kwan In, and performance director Gary Hall at the meeting with Mansoon.

The British team used Kukkiwon as a base in 2001 when Sarah Stevenson won their first world title ©AFP/Getty Images



"It was a pleasure to meet Kukkiwon President Jeong Mansoon, we have a long history with him," said Tranter after the meeting.

"We are also delighted to report that our working relationship and close personal ties will herald greater cooperation between British Taekwondo and Kukkiwon.

"Of course, we concluded the business of Kukkiwon's future certification in a positive manner, the details of which, we hope to publish very soon."

Mansoon was previously head of Cheongju University, where Kwan developed and became its most successful athlete, while it also formed the base for Hall during the years in which he lived in South Korea and became a successful athlete.

Tranter's connection dates back to over 10 years, with Kukkiwon where the British team were based prior to the 2001 World Championships in Jeju, where Sarah Stevenson became Britain's first taekwondo world champion, claiming gold in the under-72 kilogram category. 

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