Tae Kwon-Do was devised, studied and completed by Gen. Choi Hong Hi of Korea and brought into the world as modern martial arts.

Gen. Choi Hong Hi had to practice Karate of Japan because Korea was under its colonial occupation for over 36 years. Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule in 1945.

In 1946, he made up his mind to create the martial arts of Korea which will outshine over all other martial arts in both spiritual and technical aspects so as to demonstrate the spirit and wisdom of the Korean nation to the whole world.

He devoted his everything for ten years to study, devise and develop new techniques of attack and defense.  Modern Tae Kwon-Do differs greatly from other martial arts. In fact, no other martial art is so advanced with regard to the sophistication and effectiveness of its technique or the over-all physical fitness it imparts to its practitioners. Technically, 1955 signaled the beginning of Tae Kwon-Do as a formally recognized art in Korea. During that year, a special board was formed which included leading master instructors, historians, and prominent leaders of society. A number of names for the new martial art were submitted. On the 11th of April, the board summoned by Gen. Choi Hong Hi, decided on the name of Tae Kwon-Do which had been submitted by him.

Gen. Choi Hong Hi founded the International Tae Kwon-Do Federation on 22nd March 1966 comprising 9 Taekwon-Do associations of Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, West Germany, USA, Turkey, Italy, Arab Republic of Egypt and South Korea and was elected as first President of ITF. The establishment of the ITF was of great significance in the history of Tae Kwon-Do.

The International Tae Kwon-Do Federation developed rapidly over past decades overcoming all difficulties since its foundation. It has now expanded and developed into a huge international organization with 50 million practitioners in 127 member countries.

Gen. Choi Hong Hi who created Tae Kwon-Do and founded the ITF as its first President, dedicated his all to Tae Kwon-Do till last moment of his life, passed away to our great sorrow from his gastric cancer in Korea on 15th June 2002.

All Tae Kwon-Do students owe a debt to General Choi, as for without him there would not be a Korean Martial Art called Tae Kwon-Do.