Emir Hamdan
World Taekwondo’s planned relocation from Seoul advances towards construction with a 15 September groundbreaking for its new 3,200-square-metre headquarters in Chuncheon.
World Taekwondo is scheduled to break ground on its future headquarters at Songam Sports Town in Chuncheon on 15 September, moving the federation’s relocation project from design and approvals towards construction. As of 14 September 2026, the ceremony had not yet taken place.
The groundbreaking is due to form part of the opening programme for the Chuncheon 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships, which runs from 16 to 20 September. An Extraordinary World Taekwondo Council Meeting is also scheduled in the city on 15 September.
The headquarters has been designed with one basement level and four floors above ground, covering approximately 3,200 square metres. Plans include administrative and meeting space, an auditorium, reception and exhibition areas, and a virtual-reality Taekwondo experience zone. Completion is targeted for June 2028, ahead of the federation’s eventual move from Seoul.
The project dates to April 2023, when Chuncheon was selected as WT’s preferred location following an evaluation process that also considered Gimpo. The World Taekwondo Council approved the proposed relocation agreement that August, and the implementation agreement was signed during the Gangwon Chuncheon 2023 World Taekwondo Cultural Festival.
Terms presented to the Council included a minimum 30-year commitment by WT to occupy the building, renewed in five-year periods. Chuncheon City was also assigned responsibility for construction and continuing support covering rent, utilities and other operating costs.
Chuncheon subsequently selected a joint proposal by Seongdo Architects and Engineers and Baek Architekten through its design competition. The published financing plan totals 22 billion won, comprising 7 billion won in national funding, 3 billion won from Gangwon Province and 12 billion won from the city. Basic and detailed design work had been completed by August 2026, when the construction package entered provincial contract review. TAEKWONDO.TV will track the start of works and any subsequent change to the project timetable.
