Seoul’s Taekwondo Shows Draw 20,000 Visitors in First Half as Performances Resume

Seoul’s Taekwondo performances attracted 20,809 visitors during the first half of 2026, already surpassing the 19,835 people who attended throughout last year.

The city recorded 35 performances before the program’s summer break. Attendance rose 110.8% from the same period a year earlier, when 9,870 people visited. Interest from overseas visitors was also strong. Foreign tourists accounted for 7,462 of the 22,308 participants in the performances and experience programs, or 33.4%.

Seoul will resume the second-half program on the 5th at Namsangol Hanok Village and Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Regular weekend performances will run at Cheonwoo-gak in Namsangol Hanok Village from the 5th through the 18th of next month, at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Participating groups include Kukkiwon, Mirme, Bigabi, Hwaseong University of Medical Sciences and Daekyeung University demonstration teams. The program will feature traditional demonstrations such as board breaking, poomsae and self-defense, alongside creative performances combining Taekwondo with the performing arts.

The program will expand to DDP with street performances on the 19th and the 9th of next month. Visitors can also test their punches and kicks using digital impact-measuring equipment without registering in advance. A separate program for foreign tourists allows participants to wear a dobok and learn basic movements and board breaking from professional instructors. Participants receive certificates and commemorative belts.

“

We will develop Taekwondo performances into representative K-culture tourism content so that tourists visiting Seoul can experience the appeal of Korean culture firsthand.