In the history of Koryo, Taekwondo which was then termed "Subak" was practiced not only as a skill to improve health and as a sport activity but it was also encouraged as a martial art of considerably high value.

Here are a few extracts from the historical record of Koryo that testify to the popularity of Taekwondo as a martial art. "King Uijong admired the excellence of Yi Ui-min in Subak and promoted him form Taejong (military rank) to Pyolchang".

Subak is believed to have gained its highest popularity during the reign of King Uijong, between 1,147 and 1,170 A.D. This period roughly corresponds to the era that includes part of the chinese Song and Ming dynasties, during which the Chinese "Kungfu" became widely popular after this self-defense art was developed into two chiefly in that the one employs more defensive skills and the other more of fensive skills.

The above fact is worth noticing as it further shows that Taekwondo is not only of a pure Korean origin but it has achieved independent development throughout the long history of Korea.

What is very important about Subak in the Yi dynasty is that there was a book pulished to teach the game as a martial art and that it had been to a certain degree monopolized by the military in the preceding Koryo dynasty.

A historical record indicates that people from both Chungchong and Cholla provinces once gathered at the village of Chakji located along the provincial boundary to compete in Subak.

This record supports the motion that Subak played an Important role as a popular sport activity of the people in the dynasty.

Furthermore, people who aspired to be employed by the military department of the royal government were eager to learn Subak because it was included as one of the major subjects of the test to be taken by the apllicants.

Meanwhile, King Chongjo published "Muye Dobo Tongji, " an illustrated textbook on martial arts, which included Taekwondo as one of the major chapters.

It is obvious, therefore, that Subak became an important national sport and attracted much attention from both the royal court and the general public during the Yi dynasty.

However, in the latter half of the Yi dynasty, the importance of Subak as a martial art began to decline due to negligence of the royal court, which was constantly disturbed by strife between feuding political factions. As a result, Subak remained merely as a recreational activity for ordinary people.

Taekwondo in the first half of the 29th century:
Along with the deterioration of national fortunes, the fall of the military was accelerated by the dismantling of the army;
finally Japanese imperialists colonized Korea through an oppressive forceful invasion. The oppression of the Korean people by the Japanese Imperialists worsened, and the practicing of martial arts, which could have been used as a means of revolt, was forbidden.

However, Taekwondo persisted in the spirit of the Korean people as a physical and spiritual training method of anti-japanese organizations such as the Independence Army and the Liberation Army, and as a legacy which had to pass on to the younger generation.

After liberation from the Japanese invasion-1970s: After liberation from the Japanese invasion on August 15, 1945, those with an aspiration to revitalize the traditional art of Taekwondo taught their followers, and at last, on September 16, 1961, the Korea Taekwondo Association was established. On February 25, 1962, the Korea taekwondo Association became the 26th affiliate to join the Korea Amateur Sports Association. On October 9, 1963, Taekwondo became an official event for the first time in the development of 44th National Athletic Meet.. Its great leaps in the development of competition rules and protective equipment started with the 1963 National Athletic Meet 32 years ago.

Korean instructors began going abroad to teach Taekwondo in the 1960s, which could be called a turning point in the history of Taekwondo. Taekwondo made its way to the world sport though the 1st World Taekwondo Championships held in Seoul, Korea in May 1973 with 1973 on the occasion of the championships, representatives of those countries established the world Taekwondo Federation(WTF).

1980-1996: Presently, member countries of the WTF total 144 and the global Taekwondo population is estimafted at 30 million people. Spurred by the recognition of Taekwondo by the IOC at its 83rd General Session in 1980, Taekwondo has been rapidly becoming an international sport. It was adopted as a demonstration sport of the 24th Seoul Olympics in 1988 and the 25th Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

Taekwondo was adoped as an official sport of 2000 Sydny Olympic Games at the 103rd Session of the IOC held in Paris, France on September 4, 1994. Taekwondo has consolidated its position in the world sport as fast as any other martial art sport. Besides inn continental championships hosted by four member regional unions of the WTF as well as in the World and Women's World Championships, World Cup Taekwondo, Taekwondo is being played as an official sport in most international multi-sport games such as World Games, Pan American Games, All Affica Games, Southeast Asian Games and Gental American Games.