Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

A friendship competition was held on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the ROK-U.S. Alliance

Eighteen teams competed in four sports

The Army 5th Corps won the overall championship

Athletes in the ROK/IU.S. friendship Taekwondo competition compete in combat sparring sports.

ROK and U.S. soldiers strengthened friendship through Taekwondo to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the ROK-U.S. Alliance. The Defense Ministry announced that the ROK-U.S. Friendship Taekwondo Competition was held at U.S. Camp Casey, Dongducheon on June 28.

The event, supported by the Defense Ministry, was jointly organized by the U.S. Eighth Army, the Foreigners Taekwondo Cultural Association and Kukkiwon.

On the occasion of its 19th anniversary, the competition has become a scene of solidarity where ROK and U.S. military personnel are united under a strong ROK-U.S. Alliance.

This year, seven ROK teams and 11 U.S. teams participated. The athletes competed in four sports including combat sparring (men: six weight classes, women: four weight classes), jump kicking (a team of two), breaking (a team of three), and speed kicking (a team of four). Along with the rankings, there was also a contest in poomsae (a team of three) and self-defense martial arts (a team of four).

After the competition, the ROK Army 5th Corps won the overall championship. Second and third places went to the Army Capital Defense Command and Navy teams, respectively.

The competition headquarters assigned military medical and safety personnel and took out accident insurance for all participating athletes. The competition took further safety measures by appointing a manager to be responsible for the control of the athletes.

A competition official said: “The ROK-U.S. Friendship Taekwondo Competition is a scene of cultural exchange and friendship through sports, and this competition also served as a bridge to consolidate the ROK-U.S. Alliance as in the slogan, ‘We go together.’”

By Chae-Mu, Im <lims86@dema.mil.kr > 

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