'Trump Attends Inauguration Ceremony' Kukkiwon "South Korea-U.S. Diplomacy with Taekwondo"

[Anchor]
Director Lee Dong-seop of Kukkiwon, the headquarters of Taekwondo around the world, will attend U.S. President Trump's inauguration ceremony on the 20th.

Director Lee, who became close to President-elect Trump through a meeting four years ago, said he would work on diplomacy between South Korea and the U.S. through Taekwondo.

This is reporter Lee Kyung-jae.

[Reporter]
It was taken four years ago at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where former President Trump's office was located.

Lee Dong-seop, the head of the National Flag Institute, presented former President Trump with an honorary 9 dan certificate, and former President Trump praised Taekwondo as the best martial arts in the world.

[Donald Trump / Former U.S. President at the time: Honored to receive the honorary 9th dan. I don't know if I can actually use this single card. The black belt is really strong. But it's really special to receive a black belt, and to get this honor.]

[Lee Dong-seop / Kukkiwon: If you look here, you can see the Korean national flag. That's why the president of the United States is wearing the Korean national flag. Taekwondo raised our national prestige through sports diplomacy and promoted Kukkiwon...]

Lee recalled that he ordered the photo to be placed side by side on one wall filled with six symbolic moments during his term, including his first entry into the White House and a Panmunjom meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Director Lee Dong-seop also unveiled the uniform signed by former President Trump at the time, which was kept at the Kukkiwon Museum, to the media for the first time.

Due to this relationship, Director Lee was invited to the White House inauguration ceremony.

He will stay for 10 days, meet with the new administration's South Korean aide, and present honorary certificates to five members of the House and Senate to engage in diplomatic activities through Taekwondo.

[Lee Dong-seop / Director of Kukkiwon: We will talk about various situations in Korea and ask for help in Korea, play a role that politicians cannot play, and do something that helps the country through sports diplomacy.]

President-elect Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, is a Taekwondo instructor, and many leaders of Korea, who have been active in the United States for a long time, are also connecting with Trump's aides through Taekwondo.

Kukkiwon plans to hold a taekwondo festival in front of the White House in April or May, and a series of World Taekwondo Hanmadang in California in July, and invite President Trump.

This is YTN Lee Kyungjae.

Reporter for shooting
: Jung Tae-woo