During October Master Matt Ransom and his wife Hyunju (Grace) went to Korea so he could meet his new in-laws. It was also their first wedding anniversary so while they were there, Matt and Grace held a traditional wedding ceremony for Grace’s family. Having travelled with the NZ Team over most of the world and attended all of the big WTF international events and general assemblies over the years, this was finally a chance for Matt to visit Korea. But it was not for work or Taekwondo, instead he went as a visitor and most importantly to meet his new in-laws!
On the way through Seoul Matt visited the Kukkiwon and WTF on behalf of TNZ. Matt also works fulltime for Wilson Parking and took the opportunity to visit the Wilson Parking Head Office which is also located in Seoul.
Grace went along with Matt to the WTF and Kukkiwon which was just as well, as this turned out to be a great ‘ice-breaker’. Grace acted as an interpreter when needed but also chipped in as a ‘Taekwondo Wife’ with anecdotes and feedback on the Kiwi-Korean connection in New Zealand. All of the Officials at both the WTF and Kukkiwon really appreciated this, as did Matt, giving him a breather between breaks in the conversation!
First up was a quick meeting with WTF International Referee Head, Jay Lee to thank him for his ongoing support of our Kiwi International Referees. Matt then met with the WTF Secretary General, Grandmaster Jin Suk Kang to discuss the proposed WTF International Poomsae Judge Certification Seminar & Refresher Course being planned for 2012 in Auckland. During the meeting Grandmaster Kang presented Matt with an official WTF Citation for his contribution to WTF Taekwondo.
The final meeting of the morning was with WTF Executive Deputy Secretary General, Mr Manseek Choe who was very supportive of TNZ during its early days. Mr Choe is also Vice-President of the Taekwondo Peace Corps. Matt thanked Mr Choe for his support of TNZ and both discussed bringing the Taekwondo Peace Corps back to New Zealand for future visits.
After spending the morning at the WTF, Matt then visited the Kukkiwon. Matt was recently appointed as a Kukkiwon Advisory Board Member for New Zealand. So this was a good opportunity to discuss a number of projects and development opportunities for New Zealand that are on offer from the Kukkiwon and to look at the processes and administration behind the World Taekwondo Headquarters.
Matt first held meetings with Mr Kwang Mu Ko, Section Chief of the Overseas Strategy Team and Mr Seong Hoon Oh, General Director of the Kukkiwon Strategy Planning Bureau. This was followed by a lengthy meeting with the Kukkiwon President, Grandmaster Won Sik Kang. President Kang was very interested in New Zealand Taekwondo and how it has progressed over recent years under the leadership of TNZ. He encouraged TNZ to fully utilise the Kukkiwon education programs and would like to see a closer relationship develop between the Korean and Kiwi members in New Zealand for the betterment of the future of Taekwondo. This was something that he was very passionate and concerned about.
At the end of the meeting President Kang, on learning that Matt and Grace were heading to Daegu for their wedding ceremony the following weekend, ordered and sent a large bouquet of flowers for the big day on behalf of the Kukkiwon. This was greatly appreciated by Matt, Grace and her family who were very grateful at President Kang’s gesture.
Onto the holiday and it goes without saying that to really appreciate a country, you need to go and live with the people and adopt their way of life. For 10 days, Matt and Grace stayed with her family in Changnyeong. Matt had to adapt to sleeping on the floor Korean style with a very thin mattress. His 73 year old mother-in law has been doing this all her life! Eating on the floor and sitting cross-legged at home and at local restaurants over a table that was barely knee high, and not always understanding the conversations until he got the shortened version translated back was all part of the fun.
Matt and Grace also took in sightseeing around the country side, the local markets, and the historical Upo Wetlands. They trekked up the famous Hwawangsan mountain in Changnyeong which is a popular spot for the locals. While they were descending back down they could hear the chanting of the local monks from a nearby ancient temple coming up through the valleys and forest which was a real buzz. Kind of like a scene from an old movie. Half way down people can stop and drink fresh mountain water from a natural spring, which is a welcome break during a hard day of trekking.
The local country side around Changnyeong has an abundance of ancient temples dating back centuries, not to mention the many tombs that were scattered throughout the region housing the remains of nobles and royalty from ancient times. One such temple was the Gwan Ryong Sa temple which had endured two Japanese invasions, fires and floods over the centuries. Walking through the temple was like being in another time and despite it’s history of surviving wars and the elements the temple was still in good condition.
Getting married in Korea is like being sent back in time. The ceremony was held in a temple setting. Matt and Grace wore the traditional Korean clothing, as is the way for most old-school families, and the occasion had a lot of kneeling and bowing!
Overall the food was great and the hospitality of the Korean people was very warm and welcoming. There were stark contrasts at every turn. Busy intersections in the modern metropolis of Seoul with hundreds of people and cars racing by and across the road an ancient Temple smack bang in the middle of the city! High rise buildings and modern department stores tower over markets with roadside peddlers selling everything imaginable from clothing to fresh food.
It’s always great to get back home to the Kiwi way of life (and yes, head straight to Burger King). But as a Kiwi Taekwondo Master who has spent over 30 years doing Taekwondo, Matt found many of the experiences very interesting in terms of appreciating ancient Korean history which has become a part of Taekwondo. Matt recommends that all serious Taekwondo practitioners visit Korea at least once in their lifetime as it will help you better understand the culture behind Taekwondo. “If you go there, make sure you get out of the cities and visit the country side to experience the scenery and historical sites”.
Matt adds that, “yes, Taekwondo is an international Olympic sport. But it still heavily acknowledges it’s Korean heritage and traditions. As Kiwis, most of us tend to be very open-minded towards other cultures. So getting to know the people and culture behind Taekwondo certainly helps to further enrich our knowledge and appreciation of Taekwondo”.
Matt will return to Korea next year to visit the family and will again make time to follow up with the WTF and Kukkiwon on behalf of TNZ to further improve relationships and develop New Zealand Taekwondo.
