The 98-square-meter facility, located in a building owned by the city of Gdansk, will serve as a hub for instructor training and student education programs. (Image courtesy of Chungju City)
CHUNGJU, Sept. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – A new chapter in cultural exchange is set to unfold in the northern Polish port city of Gdansk as it prepares to welcome the first overseas training center for Taekkyeon, a traditional Korean martial art, on September 23.
The 98-square-meter facility, located in a building owned by the city of Gdansk, will serve as a hub for instructor training and student education programs.
It marks a significant milestone in the global expansion of this ancient Korean practice, which combines fluid, dance-like movements with powerful strikes and kicks.
The initiative is spearheaded by a local Taekkyeon organization comprised of Polish enthusiasts, working in collaboration with officials from Chungju, a city in South Korea renowned as the birthplace of Taekkyeon.
Since 2019, Chungju has been actively promoting the martial art abroad, dispatching Taekkyeon master Byeon Seung-jin as an ambassador to Poland to conduct training and outreach activities.
The 98-square-meter facility, located in a building owned by the city of Gdansk, will serve as a hub for instructor training and student education programs. (Image courtesy of Chungju City)
In January 2020, Chungju formalized its partnership with Gdansk through an agreement aimed at fostering the spread of Taekkyeon and facilitating broader cultural exchanges between the two nations. The new training center is seen as a cornerstone of this ongoing collaboration.
Coinciding with the center’s inauguration, Chungju mayor Jo Gil-hyeong and a delegation will embark on a seven-day visit to Gdansk starting September 21. Their agenda includes various activities designed to promote Taekkyeon and expand cultural ties between the two cities.
This visit reciprocates one made by Gdansk mayor Aleksandra Dulkiewicz to Chungju in August 2023, during which she extended an invitation to her Korean counterpart.
“The opening of this training center represents a crucial opportunity to showcase the cultural value and excellence of Taekkyeon to European audiences,” said a Chungju city official.
“We are committed to continuing our efforts towards the globalization of this traditional martial art.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
