The week-long Jeju Peace National Taekwondo Championship begins February 18th. This is the first year (품새) poomsae competitions -- a display of forms or kata -- will be held at the tournament. Mike Laidman reports.

[SLUG]
Taekwondo gym in Ara-dong, Jeju City

At this Taekwondo gym in Jeju City, boys and girls concentrate on every move of the poomsae, shouting as they go through the motions.

(품새) Poomsae is a pattern of attack and defense movements. There are four categories of poomsae: (태극) Taegeuk, (고려) Goryeo, (금강) Geumgang, and (태백) Taebaek, organized by level.

2016 is the first year that the poomsae competition is being included in the national Jeju Peace Taekwondo Championship.

INTERVIEW
Hyeon Da-hee / Participant, Jeju Peace Taekwondo Championship
I’ve been learning taekwondo for five years, but this will be my first time in the championship. I’m excited and prepared.
[인터뷰 현다희 / 제주평화기 태권도대회 출전자]
"태권도를 배운 지 5년 정도 됐는데 전국대회 출전은 처음이라 기쁘고
좋은 성적 내도록 하겠습니다. "

This is the first time the island has hosted a poomsae competition, and so both athletes and those affiliated with taekwondo are paying close attention.

INTERVIEW
Lee Gil-seung / Taekwondo master
Our kids are looking forward to the taekwondo championship, and their parents are excited, too. They are focusing a lot on practicing poomsae.
[인터뷰 이길승 / 00태권도 체육관장]
" 부모님들도 너무 좋아하시고 저희 체육관 친구들도 기대가 큽니다. 보시면 품새를 더욱 열심히 하려고 노력하고 있고요. "

[camera]
Ko Moon-su

The championship also includes tryouts for the national team.

The event accompanies the national championships, and so the final round of tryouts for the national team for the Asian Taekwondo Championships will be held on February 16th and 17th.

The tryouts will be held at the (한림) Hallim Sports Complex, where local authorities are taking advantage of the contest to boost the local economy.

INTERVIEW
Shin Jin-seong / Executive director, Jeju Taekwondo Association
Taekwondo sparring used to be held only at the Halla Sports Complex. Beginning this year, though, it will be held at different venues across the island.
[인터뷰 신진성 / 제주도태권도협회 전무이사]
"겨루기는 주로 한라체육관에서 해왔는데 올해는 한림에서 하고 이후로는 서귀포 표선 성산 등 읍,면을 방문해 개최할 계획입니다. "

[REPORTER]
Mike Laidman

The Korea Taekwondo Association and KCTV Jeju are hosting the week-long event, which is seeing its size and influence grow larger and larger year by year.

Mike Laidman, KCTV