Mr Lee In Tae, Korea Ambassador to Nigeria has expressed satisfaction over the expansion of the establishment the Korean Cultural Centre Abuja (KCCN) in the last ten years.
Ambassador Lee said it is double celebration as this year marked 40years of Korea-Nigeria diplomatic relations and 10years anniversary of establishment of the Korean Cultural Center Abuja.
He thanked Nigerians and everyone who made the centre a reality with their support and commitment.
Speaking at the event, Mr Jin Su, the Director of KCCN Nigeria said it offers Taekwondo and Korean classes 4 times in a week to the public.
"Taekwodo classes were opened in four public primary and secondary since 2014 and the KCCN coaches are teaching these classes with the aim to discover young children with talent in Taekwondo.
"KCCN is growing gradually, and with the support of everyone we will go a long way.
"We thank God for bringing us to this point because this year is more significant as it marks the 10th anniversary of its establishment.
He said that KCCN will continue to play its role as a bridge to vitalize exchanges between artists in both countries.
"One of the best ways to understand each other’s cultures is to meet often and spend time together, when artists of both countries visit each other’s country to learn and understand each other’s culture by combining with their own cultures, it will aid the development of both countries’ cultures rapidly,’’ he noted.
According to him, a total of twelve Taekwondo training institutes were selected out of many applications received by the Korean Cultural Centre Abuja.
"The final beneficiaries are: Everyoung Taekwondo Club, Peak Taekwondo Academy, Guards Taekwondo Club, Nigeria Police Taekwondo Association and Word Alive Taekwondo Club.
"Others are Kick Fit Taekwondo Club, Defence Headquarters Taekwondo Club, Nigeria Army Taekwondo Association, Nigeria Security and civil Defence Corps Taekwondo Club, Combat Taekwondo Club, Champions Taekwondo Club, FCT College of Education Zuba Taekwondo Club’’.
He said that to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Korean Cultural Centre Abuja, each selected club among the final beneficiaries have received a training accessories worth $1,000. "They received assorted items like focus pads, uniform, resistance bands, multicolored cones, head guards, arm guards, shin pads, body protectors, and agility steps ladders’’.
Master Gbolahan Ogunmuyiwa, Head, Taekwondo Training Department of the KCCN commended the participants for putting up a good show, while describing the past 10 years of the existence of KCCN as a fulfilling one made possible by contributions.
He said Taekwondo in the 21st century has been digitalized and coaching also gone digital.
"I enjoin all participants to utilize the unlimited self development opportunities available in ICT.
Ogunmnyiwa, who thanked the KCCN for providing the platform for the event also pledged the outfit’s commitment to its activities, saying, `we shall continue to make the center proud.
He encouraged grassroots Taekwondo development in the country to using the Abuja center as a pilot project to promote civil-military relations towards Taekwondo development.
"We also encourage multilateral synergy in Nigeria Taekwondo development strategies to reward the hardwork and dedication among Nigerian Taekwondo coaches and Instructors.
"Secondly, we need support from Taekwondo stakeholders for 2021 project training activities so as to enable us display other KCCN departments which include, Dance section (K-pop); Arts/Crafts empowerment (weaving/ stitching/ K-drama); University scholarships for Nigerian students to Korea.
Others in attendance at the anniversary were several officers and sister Nigeria Security agencies.
"The programme also observed the Covid-19 safety distancing.
