New networks of instructors
Alongside the three main ITF branches, masters established other international organisations and independent schools. They sought more practical ways to cooperate, wanted to develop their own teaching traditions or brought together instructors from different backgrounds. Training with Choi and his students remained the foundation of many of these relationships.
Unified ITF
Unified International Taekwon-Do Federation was founded by Hwang Kwang Sung, a former assistant to Choi and ITF official. Its programme combined preservation of the founder’s legacy with openness to practitioners from different organisations.
Norberto Puello became president of Unified ITF on 25 January 2026. The federation continued its work as an independent international network.
ITF HQ Korea
ITF HQ Korea developed direct membership for schools, clubs and associations. In 2021, this model allowed them to join without necessarily going through a single national representative.
Its 2019–2020 rules set different requirements for its own students, experienced practitioners from other ITF organisations and members of other martial arts. Recognition of grades and teaching authority involved assessment and educational requirements.
Cooperation between organisations
On 3 January 2024 in Sejong, Paul Weiler and representatives of his ITF met Oh Chang Jin and ITF HQ Korea. They renewed discussions on joint events, education and the development of Taekwon-Do in Korea, creating practical contacts between the organisations.
Dialogue with WTF/WT
On 21 August 2014 in Nanjing, Chang Ung and Choue Chung Won, leaders of the Vienna-based ITF and WTF, signed a cooperation agreement in the presence of IOC President Thomas Bach. It opened opportunities for athletes from these organisations to enter each other’s competitions under the organiser’s rules.
Joint demonstrations in 2015 and 2017 continued this dialogue. Olympic participation remained under discussion. The federations retained their own governance and sporting rules while expanding opportunities for their teams to meet.