World Taekwondo(WT) today announced it will donate USD 30,000 to support recovery efforts in Türkiye and the Taekwondo community affected by the recent devastating earthquake.

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue visited the Turkish embassy in Seoul to meet with Turkish ambassador Murat Tamer and make the donation. President Choue was joined by World Taekwondo Secretary General Jeongkang Seo and World Taekwondo Senior Advisor, former Ambassador Youngsun Kim.

While at the embassy, the President also held a video conference with President of the Türkiye Taekwondo Federation and World Taekwondo Council Member Metin Sahin, and World Taekwondo Auditor Ali Sagirkaya. Mr. Sahin and members of the Türkiye Taekwondo Federation are onsite at earthquake-affected areas to assist in rescue and recovery efforts.

World Taekwondo President Chungwon Choue said:

“World Taekwondo stands in solidarity with the people of Türkiye and Syria. As emergency relief efforts focus on providing aid to the victims affected by the terrible earthquakes, the support of the international community is needed more than ever. We will continue to provide all the assistance we can and our thoughts and condolences are with those who have been so tragically impacted by this disaster.”

Mr. Sahin told President Choue and Ambassador Tamer that they had lost some members of the Türkiye Taekwondo community due to the disaster.  He and Mr. Sagirkaya expressed their appreciation to World Taekwondo for the emotional support that they have received as well as for the donation.

Turkish Ambassador Murat Tamer, in thanking President Choue for the donation, said:

“The support that we have received here in the Republic of Korea has been genuine and overwhelming. We wish to thank World Taekwondo for your support. At the moment, there is a need for psychological and emotional support as well and I believe that Taekwondo has the power to help in such difficult times.”

세계태권도연맹(총재 조정원, WT)은 튀르키예의 지진 피해 복구와 태권도 커뮤니티 지원을 위해 미화 3만 달러를 기부했다.

조정원 총재는 15일 오후 서울 중구 주한 튀르키예 대사관을 방문해 지진 희생자를 애도하고, 무랏 타메르 주한 튀르키예 대사에게 지진 피해 지원금을 전달했다.

이 자리에는 메틴 샤힌 튀르키예 태권도 협회장이 화상으로 함께 참석했다. 메틴 샤힌 협회장은 이번 지진으로 피해를 입은 태권도인들이 적지 않다며 WT에 감사의 말을 전했다.

조총재는 “튀르키예이재민들에게깊은위로를전하며지진피해가조속히복구되기를기원한다”며 WT가할수있는모든지원을제공하겠다고말했다. 

타메르대사는 “WT 지원에 감사하며 태권도는 어려운 시기에 심리적, 정서적안정에 많은 도움을 주는 힘을 가지고 있다”고말했다.

튀르키예는 태권도강국으로 지난 도쿄올림픽에서 남자 -68kg, 여자 -57kg에서 각각동메달 1개씩을 도쿄패럴림픽에서 여자 -40kg에서 은메달, 남자 -61kg에서 동메달을 획득한 바 있다.

WTU-News