Taekwondowon is South Korea’s national taekwondo park, a training, competition and visitor complex in Muju County, North Jeolla (Jeonbuk), about 3.5 hours by car from Incheon International Airport. It opened in 2014, covers about 2.3 square kilometers at the foot of Mt. Baegun and is run by the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation. Visitors can watch free taekwondo demonstrations, tour the National Taekwondo Museum, try kicks and VR experiences, ride a monorail to an observatory and book training programs. It also hosts World Taekwondo events, from the 2017 World Taekwondo Championships to the Grand Prix.
| Where | 1482 Museol-ro, Seolcheon-myeon, Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea |
|---|---|
| Opened | 2014 |
| Size | About 2.3 km² (roughly 570 acres) |
| Run by | Taekwondo Promotion Foundation (TPF) |
| Open | Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00; closed Mondays |
| Day admission | Listed as free on the official site; some experiences charge a small fee |
| Demonstrations | Free, 11:00 and 14:00 at the T1 Theater |
About
What is Taekwondowon?
Taekwondowon (태권도원, “taekwondo garden”) was built by the South Korean government as a home base for taekwondo: a place to train, compete, study the art’s history and introduce it to visitors. It sits in a mountain valley near Seolcheon in Muju County, a rural area better known for Deogyusan National Park and its ski resort. The site is operated by the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation, which reports to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Taekwondowon is a separate place from Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo headquarters in Seoul that issues dan certificates. Kukkiwon is the official body; Taekwondowon is the park and training center. For how the art got here, see the history of taekwondo and taekwondo styles.
Things to do
What to see and do at Taekwondowon
T1 Theater
Taekwondo demonstration
A free 20-minute taekwondo demonstration at 11:00 and 14:00. Visitors can join Taekwon Dance at 11:30 and Taekwon Kick, with kick mitts, at 14:30.
Museum
National Taekwondo Museum
Three exhibition halls on taekwondo’s history and spread, how training affects body and mind, and the people who built the sport.
T1 Arena
Competition arena
A 4,571-seat arena used for international tournaments, training camps and large events.
Experience Center
YAP! hands-on zone
Fourteen self-guided taekwondo experiences plus VR and AR content, for a small fee. Children under 13 need a guardian.
Monorail
Observatory
A five-minute monorail ride climbs about 100 meters to a three-floor observatory with a cafe and views over the park and Mt. Baegun.
Outdoors
Trails and gardens
Walking and trekking paths, a traditional garden and pavilion, and a traditional martial arts training area by Ohaeng Falls.
For more on what demonstration shows include, see taekwondo demonstration teams and taekwondo board breaking.
Training
Training programs and stays
Taekwondowon runs 26 training programs in four groups, most of them 100 minutes long and booked in advance for groups through its reservation office. Groups can combine them with a night or more in the on-site lodging, Doyakgwan, using the park’s 2-day, 3-day and 4-day packages.
- Learning: basic postures, self-defense, taekwondo for people with disabilities, athlete-style training, and lectures on mind control and leadership.
- Challenge: traditional martial arts training, VR experiences, an electronic body protector session, “National Athlete for a Day”, orienteering, drumming and calligraphy.
- Growth: sparring, breaking, kicking, poomsae and Taekwon Healing Therapy.
- Healing: guided walks, team games, music-based exercise and trekking.
For background on the skills these sessions cover, see poomsae and taekwondo sparring rules.
Events
Competitions held at Taekwondowon
- 2017: the World Taekwondo Championships. See the World Taekwondo Championships.
- 2022, 2023 and 2025: World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge events.
- 2024 and 2025: Diamond Games.
- September 4, 2026: the World Para Taekwondo Grand Prix, timed with International Taekwondo Day.
- September 5–7, 2026: the first World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series event held in Korea.
Grand Prix results count toward Olympic ranking points. See Olympic taekwondo.
Visit
Hours, admission and how to get there
Opening hours
| Season | Tuesday to Friday | Weekends and holidays |
|---|---|---|
| March to October | 10:00–18:00 | 10:00–19:00 |
| November to February | 10:00–17:00 | 10:00–18:00 |
Taekwondowon is closed every Monday, on January 1, and on the day before and the day of Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok. When a holiday falls on a Monday, the next weekday is also closed.
Admission
The official fee page lists day admission as free for adults, youths and children, covering the museum, the demonstration, the free experience sessions and the shuttle bus around the grounds. The Experience Center and VR content charge a small fee, around 4,000 won. Fees and schedules change, so check the official Taekwondowon website before you go.
Getting there
- From Seoul by bus: take an intercity bus from Seoul Nambu (South) Bus Terminal to Muju Public Bus Terminal, about five departures a day, then a local bus toward Seolcheon.
- From Incheon Airport: take the train to Daejeon, a bus from Daejeon to Muju, then the Seolcheon bus.
- By car: take the Daejeon–Tongyeong Expressway to Muju IC, then follow Museol-ro to the park.
- On site: a free shuttle bus loops between the main zones about every 15 minutes.
Tip
Arrive before 11:00 to catch the first demonstration and the Taekwon Dance session, then spend the afternoon at the museum and observatory. Seats for demonstrations can fill up on busy days.
Nearby in Muju
Many visitors pair Taekwondowon with Deogyusan National Park and its resort, Gucheondong Valley, the Meoru wine cave, Jeoksangsan Mountain and Bandi Land, home of the Muju Firefly Festival. Learn a little Korean etiquette before you travel; see the Korean flag and bowing in taekwondo.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Where is Taekwondowon?
In Seolcheon-myeon, Muju County, North Jeolla (Jeonbuk), South Korea, at 1482 Museol-ro. It is about 3.5 hours by car from Incheon International Airport.
How much does Taekwondowon cost?
The official site lists day admission as free for all ages, including the museum and demonstrations. Some experiences, such as the Experience Center and VR content, cost around 4,000 won. Check the official site for current fees.
Is Taekwondowon open on Mondays?
No. It is closed every Monday, on January 1, and around Seollal and Chuseok. It opens at 10:00 Tuesday to Sunday.
How do you get to Taekwondowon from Seoul?
Take a bus from Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal to Muju Public Bus Terminal, then a local bus toward Seolcheon. By car, take the Daejeon–Tongyeong Expressway to Muju IC.
Can you train at Taekwondowon?
Yes. Groups can book training programs such as sparring, poomsae, kicking, breaking and self-defense, with lodging packages of two to four days. Individual visitors can join the free Taekwon Dance and Taekwon Kick sessions.
What is the difference between Taekwondowon and Kukkiwon?
Kukkiwon, in Seoul, is the World Taekwondo headquarters that sets poomsae and issues dan certificates. Taekwondowon, in Muju, is the national taekwondo park for training, competitions, the museum and visitors.
The short version
Taekwondowon is South Korea’s national taekwondo park in Muju. Go Tuesday to Sunday for free demonstrations at 11:00 and 14:00, the National Taekwondo Museum, the Experience Center and the monorail observatory. Groups can book training programs and stays, and the park hosts World Taekwondo events such as the 2017 World Taekwondo Championships and the Grand Prix.