Choi Won-suk is a photojournalist at The Korea Times. Before joining the newspaper, he also worked as a photojournalist with AFP and St. Joseph News-Press in Missouri. He spent 13 years in the United States, graduating with a Bachelor of Journalism degree (Cum Laude) from the University of Missouri - Columbia and a Master of Arts in Photography from Ohio University - Athens. Over the past 11 years, Choi covered various news events such as presidential elections, the 2019 North Korea-United States Hanoi Summit and 2022 Qatar World Cup. But above all, Choi believes in local journalism and finds a lot of joy telling life stories of ordinary citizens in small neighborhoods.
Pope Leo XIV awarded honorary 10th dan of taekwondo
World Taekwondo President Choue Chung‑won, left, presents an honorary 10th dan certificate to Pope Leo XIV during the General Audience at the Vatican, Wednesday. Courtesy of Vatican Press
By Choi Won-suk
WT presidents brings refugee children to Vatican
VATICAN CITY — World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won presented an honorary 10th dan certificate and "dobok" (athletes' uniform) to Pope Leo XIV during Wednesday’s General Audience, continuing the sport federation’s long-standing ties with the Vatican.
Choue was accompanied by seven young refugee athletes from the Azraq and Za’atari camps in Jordan: Laour Fahed Alahmad, Marwa Ealawi Almahmoud Alshaeikh, Loujain Wesam Alrefaei, Sereen Mohammad Ghuzlan, Huda Khaled Alkhaled, Baraa Mohammad Aldamad and Remas Yaser Haji Ramadan. The refugees, all Syrian nationals, are between 7 and 14 years old.
Syrian refugee taekwondo athletes from the Azraq and Za’atari camps in Jordan attend the General Audience at the Vatican, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
The meeting was Choue’s first with Pope Leo XIV since the pontiff’s election in May last year, underscoring World Taekwondo’s cooperation with the Vatican on sport development and humanitarian initiatives. The 10th dan is the highest rank in taekwondo; Choue praised the pope’s support for humanitarian causes and said the award reflected shared values of peace and human dignity.
World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won, left, greets Pope Leo XIV during the General Audience at the Vatican, Wednesday. Courtesy of Vatican Press
As Choue presented the dobok, he joked about the pope’s well-known enthusiasm for tennis and suggested he might wear the uniform on the court, a comment that drew laughter. Pope Leo XIV praised World Taekwondo and the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation for their work with refugees and said meeting the children from the camps was a joy.
Pope Leo XIV meets a disabled boy from Ukraine during the General Audience at the Vatican, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Choue said it was an honor to mark the 10th anniversary of the foundation at the General Audience and to highlight the foundation’s efforts to empower refugees and displaced people.
The reception took place ahead of the World Para Taekwondo Grand Prix Thursday and the World Taekwondo Grand Prix, scheduled for Friday to Sunday at Foro Italico in Rome. The Kim & Liù Tournament will be held concurrently, giving the seven young refugee athletes a chance to compete at one of Europe’s largest youth taekwondo events.
Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims from the Popemobile during the General Audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Choue previously presented an honorary 10th dan to Pope Francis in May 2017. World Taekwondo’s performance team has performed at papal events before, including a demonstration in St. Peter’s Square during Pope Francis’ General Audience in May 2018 and at the 1st Global Conference on Faith & Sport in October 2016.
Athletica Vatican — Vatican Taekwondo — is one of World Taekwondo’s 215 member national associations, formally recognized at the federation’s 2021 general assembly.