Taekwondo Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
World Taekwondo and the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation identify September 4 as Taekwondo Day, designated by the World Taekwondo General Assembly on July 25, 2006 to commemorate the IOC’s September 4, 1994 decision to include taekwondo on the Olympic program. South Korean national-anniversary recognition followed in 2008 and is kept jurisdiction-specific.
About Taekwondo Day
Taekwondo Day is observed on September 4. World Taekwondo describes it as an annual celebration of the sport, tied to the date in 1994 when the IOC decided to include taekwondo on the Olympic program.
The Taekwondo Promotion Foundation records that the World Taekwondo General Assembly designated September 4 as International Taekwondo Day on July 25, 2006.
Why Taekwondo Day matters
The day recognizes taekwondo as a global sport and martial art and provides a focus for demonstrations, education and recognition of contributors to the sport.
World Taekwondo’s international observance and South Korea’s later national-anniversary recognition are related but distinct institutional layers; neither should be generalized into a worldwide civil public holiday.
History of Taekwondo Day
On September 4, 1994, the 103rd IOC Session in Paris selected taekwondo for the official Olympic program.
On July 25, 2006, the World Taekwondo General Assembly in Ho Chi Minh City designated September 4 as Taekwondo Day.
The Taekwondo Promotion Foundation records that South Korea later incorporated Taekwondo Day into its national-anniversary framework in 2008. World Taekwondo continues to mark the day internationally.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
World Taekwondo General Assembly
World Taekwondo General Assembly designation of International Taekwondo Day
Recognized September 4 as Taekwondo Day within South Korea’s national-anniversary framework.
Republic of Korea · Act on the Promotion of Taekwondo and Creation of Taekwondo Park / national-anniversary framework
World Taekwondo and participating taekwondo institutions
World Taekwondo continues to mark Taekwondo Day and recognizes contributions to the sport.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
Also known as
World Taekwondo Day
How to Observe Taekwondo Day
Attend a recognized club, federation or community demonstration and follow the venue’s safety rules.
Learn basic taekwondo history from World Taekwondo, the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation or other institutional sources.
Recognize coaches, athletes, officials and volunteers who contribute to safe and inclusive sport.
Do not assume that an international sport observance creates a public holiday or closure rule in every country.
Taekwondo Day Facts
The recurring calendar date for Taekwondo Day is September 4.
World Taekwondo says the date commemorates the IOC decision of September 4, 1994 to include taekwondo on the Olympic program.
The World Taekwondo General Assembly designated the day in 2006 in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Taekwondo Promotion Foundation records later South Korean national-anniversary recognition in 2008.
World Taekwondo continues to describe Taekwondo Day as an annual observance of the sport.
Taekwondo Day Messages
Taekwondo Day can be marked through safe training, demonstrations and recognition of the people who support the sport.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Korea.net — Taekwondo Day institutional history (opens in a new tab)
Government Information
Taekwondo Promotion Foundation — International Taekwondo Day (opens in a new tab)
Official Foundation
World Taekwondo — Taekwondo Day (opens in a new tab)
Sport Governing Body
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Taekwondo Day?
4 September The documented recurrence rule is: 4 September.
Does Taekwondo Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Taekwondo Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Organizer-backed worldwide sport observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Taekwondo Day?
The reviewed sources identify World Taekwondo General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as World Taekwondo and participating taekwondo institutions.
Is Taekwondo Day international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: Organizer-backed worldwide sport observance. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-04.
When is Taekwondo Day?
It is observed annually on September 4.
Why September 4?
The date commemorates September 4, 1994, when the IOC decided to include taekwondo on the Olympic program.
Who designated Taekwondo Day?
The Taekwondo Promotion Foundation records that the World Taekwondo General Assembly designated September 4 as Taekwondo Day in July 2006.
Is it a public holiday everywhere?
No. It is an international sport observance; South Korea also has a national-anniversary framework, but that status does not transfer to other jurisdictions.
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