Korea to host World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series for first time

The World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series, one of the sport's top international competitions, will be held in Korea for the first time next month in Muju County, North Jeolla, the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation (TPF) said Monday. 

Slated to run from Sept. 4 at the city's Taekwondowon sports venue, the competition's opening day will feature the World Para Taekwondo Grand Prix — an international competition for elite taekwondo athletes with disabilities — along with a ceremony marking International Taekwondo Day, designated as Sept. 4 to commemorate taekwondo's recognition as an official Olympic sport.

A total of 210 athletes and officials from 29 countries are expected to compete in the para event. Eight Korean athletes will join top-ranked Paralympic competitors in five men's and five women's K44 weight divisions.

The Grand Prix Series will follow from Sept. 5 to 7, with 445 athletes and officials from 50 countries, including 24 Korean competitors, registered to participate.

Most of the world's top Olympic-ranked athletes are expected to compete in four men's and four women's Olympic weight divisions.

Taekwondowon — a national taekwondo complex for training, education and cultural experiences — previously hosted the Grand Prix Challenge last year, but this will be the first time it stages the higher-tier Grand Prix Series.

"The Grand Prix Series will serve as the starting point on the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics," said Kim Jung-heon, chairman of the TPF. "We will successfully host both Grand Prix events together with the International Taekwondo Day ceremony and present world-class competition to taekwondo fans around the globe."

BY SONG JI-HOON [shin.woojin@joongang.co.kr]