By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

The nation's tourism agency said Sunday it and other state organizations will launch a campaign to promote Taekwondo as a vehicle to attract more inbound tourists.

Taekwondo presentations will be held four times a week in a government effort to promote the national martial arts as a tourist program. The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) said it will join hands with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Seoul City, Gangnam-gu and Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters, for a joint promotion plan to attract 12,000 foreign visitors next year.

As the country lacks performances or other programs through which tourists can experience taekwondo, the authorities decided to hold two taekwondo presentations weekly at Kukkiwon, in addition to the other two which have been held in Gyeonghee Palace.

The Kukkiwon presentations, starting in February, will be on the itinerary of Gangnam tour packages. The authorities are also considering holding indoor performances if outdoor ones at Gyeonghee Palace are cancelled because of bad weather.

``About 70 million people in 188 countries are taekwondo trainees. Only about 7,000 people came to Korea this year to visit the country where taekwondo originated, but we see a high potential in the martial arts-related tour programs in attracting tourists,'' a KTO official said.

He said about 70,000 visitors are expected to come here in 2012 when a Taekwondo Park opens in Muju, North Jeolla Province.

The tour agency plans to hold a series of explanation sessions through its 26 overseas branches to attract more foreign tourists and strengthen other international publicity activities.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr