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.
World Taekwondo leadership honors late pioneer Park Young-ghil in Rome
The World Taekwondo leadership honors the late taekwondo pioneer Park Young Ghil at his resting place on the outskirts of Rome, Saturday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
By Choi Won-suk
ROME — The World Taekwondo leadership paused during the World Taekwondo Grand Prix, Saturday, to honor the late Grand Master Park Young-ghil, the pioneer who established taekwondo in Italy.
World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won led a delegation to Park's resting place on the outskirts of Rome. Joined by Park's family, the group laid flowers and observed a moment of silence for the master, who died in December 2024.
Choue praised Park as an invaluable figure who spent his life establishing taekwondo in Italy and expanding the sport's global reach, noting that the late master's dedication and humble service left a lasting legacy.
World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won touches the headstone of late taekwondo pioneer Park Young-ghil at his resting place on the outskirts of Rome, Saturday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Park dedicated his life to expanding the martial art across Italy’s southern and peripheral regions. Beginning in 1966, he traveled extensively through Calabria, Sicily and Abruzzo to build the sport from the ground up.
His mission extended beyond athletic competition. Park viewed taekwondo as a vehicle for social change and frequently directed instructors to develop "champions of social life." Park utilized the sport's tenets of respect, solidarity and discipline to help young people in disadvantaged areas overcome social hardships.
World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won, right, and Park Itae, son of the late Grand Master Park Young-ghil, share a moment at Park's resting place on the outskirts of Rome, Saturday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Park had been a dedicated leader within World Taekwondo since the organization's founding in 1973, playing a key role in the sport's international expansion. He served as the competition chairman for the inaugural World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Seoul, South Korea, in 2006, helping establish poomsae as a recognized international discipline. In 2017, he acted as the technical delegate for the first World Taekwondo Beach Championships in Rhodes, Greece.
The World Taekwondo Performance Team honors late pioneer Young Ghil Park at resting place on the outskirts of Rome, Saturday. Korea Times Photo by Choi Won-suk
The visiting delegation in Rome included World Taekwondo Vice Presidents Yang Jin-bang and Driss El Hilali, Council Members Jay Warwick and Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Secretary General Seo Jeong-kang, Kukkiwon President Yun Ung-suk, and the World Taekwondo Performance Team.
Reflecting on the 60th anniversary of the sport's introduction to the country, Choue said the ongoing Grand Prix celebrations stand as a direct result of Park arriving in Italy six decades ago with nothing but his taekwondo uniform and an ambitious vision.