„I believe Taekwondo in Brazil will continue to develop strongly.“

Taekwondo Aktuell: Could you tell us about your personal Taekwondo journey before coming to Brazil?
Master Lim: I began practicing Taekwondo at the age of eight in Korea. At first, I was a sparring player until cadet level, and after that I shifted to Poomsae.

Taekwondo Aktuell: What inspired you to leave Korea and begin teaching Taekwondo abroad?
Master Lim: My first time teaching Taekwondo abroad was in Ecuador as a master sent by KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency). One of KOICA’s missions is dispatching volunteers in different fields such as education, vocational training, agriculture, health, sanitation — and also Taekwondo masters. I was selected to support and develop the Ecuadorian Taekwondo community, train national team members, and improve the competition environment. I achieved very good results there and felt a deep sense of achievement. After my career in Ecuador, I decided to continue this path in Brazil — to achieve my second goal.

Taekwondo Aktuell: Why did you choose Brazil as your destination?
Master Lim: Life in Ecuador changed my life. Before going there, I was a Taekwondo player — but afterwards, I became a master who understands how to teach Taekwondo with the correct method. I also learned Spanish. These reasons motivated me to go to Brazil as a Kukkiwon Dispatch Master.

Taekwondo Aktuell: In which city are you currently based?
Master Lim: In São Paulo.

Taekwondo Aktuell: What do you appreciate most about life in Brazil?
Master Lim: I appreciate the warmth and hospitality. Brazilians are often described as warm, happy, and welcoming. They are curious about others and love to interact socially.

Taekwondo Aktuell: What motivated you to apply to become a Kukkiwon Dispatch Master?
Master Lim: As I mentioned before, I wanted to continue teaching Taekwondo in South America, making use of my strengths — speaking Spanish, having experience in South America, and understanding Latin culture. I saw the recruitment notice on the Kukkiwon website and applied. That is how I became the Kukkiwon Dispatch Master in Brazil.

Taekwondo Aktuell: As a Kukkiwon Dispatch Master in Brazil, what are your main responsibilities and activities?
Master Lim: My work includes promoting Taekwondo as an important part of Korean culture through the Korean Culture Center in Brazil. I also coach the Brazilian National Poomsae Team, teach Taekwondo to the Brazilian police, and manage the Taekwondo Demonstration Team. In addition, I regularly organize and hold Poomsae seminars together with the Brazilian Taekwondo Confederation (CBTKD).

Taekwondo Aktuell: Considering Brazil’s vast size and population, do you find it especially challenging to promote and develop Taekwondo across the country?
Master Lim: Yes. Brazil is the world’s fifth-largest country by area and seventh-largest by population with over 213 million people. I realized that online classes via YouTube were the most effective way to promote Taekwondo. I began recording online classes during the pandemic. At first I streamed live and gave real-time feedback. These classes became very popular — and now the cumulative number of views on YouTube is around two million.

Taekwondo Aktuell: We have seen videos of you speaking fluent Portuguese on YouTube. How did you learn the language, and how long did it take to become fluent?
Master Lim: Honestly, I am not fluent in Portuguese yet. It is a big challenge. But I try my best to improve every day — by speaking a lot with my Taekwondo students and reading newspapers.

Taekwondo Aktuell: What has been your happiest or most rewarding moment as a Kukkiwon Dispatch Master?
Master Lim: At the Brazilian national championships, some athletes came to me and said: “Oh, I saw you on YouTube! I started practicing Taekwondo from your online class. Thank you so much!” That was an incredibly rewarding moment.

Taekwondo Aktuell: On the other hand, what has been the most challenging situation you’ve faced?
Master Lim: The biggest challenge is the distance from Korea. Traveling from São Paulo to Incheon takes about 30 hours by plane. Visiting Korea is very difficult.

Taekwondo in Brazil — Status, Growth, Future

Taekwondo Aktuell: What do you consider your greatest achievements in Brazil so far? What are you most proud of?
Master Lim: I believe I contributed to raising the level of Poomsae in Brazil. After I arrived, the Brazilian national Poomsae team achieved strong results at various international championships. My greatest achievement is adding Taekwondo to the official curriculum of the Brazilian Police Academy together with the Korean government.

Taekwondo Aktuell: How was the Taekwondo landscape in Brazil when you first arrived, and how has it evolved since then?
Master Lim: When I came to Brazil, most Taekwondo practitioners trained only sparring — but now they train Poomsae as well.

Taekwondo Aktuell: What is the current status of Taekwondo in Brazil?
Master Lim: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the most popular martial art in Brazil. But Taekwondo is becoming much more popular because of social programs and after-school programs supported by state and federal governments. There are around 2,000 clubs and about 300,000 practitioners.

Taekwondo Aktuell: What do you see as the key strengths and positive aspects of Taekwondo in Brazil today?
Master Lim: Brazil has enormous potential because of its large population — and because Brazilians love sports. I believe Taekwondo in Brazil will continue to develop strongly.

Taekwondo Aktuell: What challenges or difficulties have you encountered in your work?
Master Lim: I do not think there are many.

Taekwondo Aktuell: Have there been any events or initiatives that significantly boosted public interest?
Master Lim: Yes. Aside from YouTube, I also hold public demonstrations and planned the Taekwondo Exhibition with the Korean Culture Center in Brazil. It introduced the history of Taekwondo, the meaning of Taekwondo, and the history of Brazilian Taekwondo, and included experience spaces. It was very successful — around fifty thousand people visited the exhibition.

Taekwondo Aktuell: Do you receive support from other institutions or organizations?
Master Lim: Yes, I am supported by the Korean Culture Center and the Korean Consulate in São Paulo in promoting Taekwondo in Brazil.

Taekwondo Aktuell: What are your goals and plans for the future of Taekwondo in Brazil?
Master Lim: My goal is to disseminate Taekwondo to all Brazilian people.

Taekwondo Aktuell: Is there anything else you would like to share — perhaps a message for our readers and the global Taekwondo community?
Master Lim: Hello Taekwondo Aktuell readers and Taekwondo family. It is a pleasure to introduce my Taekwondo life in Brazil. Taekwondo is a sport that honors etiquette, refines personality through mental training, and challenges people to go beyond themselves while interacting with humanity. If the people of the world equip themselves with the spirit of Taekwondo, I am sure the world will be more peaceful and more beautiful than it is today. I hope that I can continue contributing to the development of the Taekwondo community in Brazil. Thank you.