The Year 2009, decorated with a full of pride and dignity has come to end and A New Year 2010 has reached, presenting all of us with a new hope and vigour as New Year gift.

I wish all of you and your loved ones all the best luck and happiness for a New Year 2010.

On this occasion I would like to express my sincere thanks and best regards to all of you for your heartfelt support and assistance rendered to ITF leaderships and myself throughout the whole period of the year 2009.

During a whole period of the year 2009 , despite the mammoth obstacles and unfavourable atmosphere ITF can say it made a remarkable success under joint and unified efforts of all ITF members.

First , it saw a more solid unity and a steadfast expansion of ITF throughout this year.

It has been clearly displayed during the 16th ITF Championships held in St.Peterburg in Oct.2009 with more than 1100 participants from 82 countries and at the 19th ITF Congress where all the 82 NGB representatives in attendance at this Congress showed their full support to re-election of Prof. Ph.D Chang Ung as a ITF President.

Especially a heartfelt gratitude should go to Mrs. Choi Chun Hi who had came to this Championships and rendered inspiration and encouragement to all ITF members despite of her elderly age of 81 years and a long air travel.

ITF NGBs and ITF Masters have become more dynamic in their activity such as successful hosting of ITF Continental Championships, the big regional tournaments and National Championship with an increasing members and students in participation number.

Second, the another tangible achievement goes to manifestation of the Original ITF techniques.

Through the Master Seminar , Umpire seminar and Technical seminars held last year, the technical and educational standardization has reached high and ITF members have been provided a high quality technical and moral seminars conducted by ITF prominent Grand Masters and Senior Masters in many countries.

Third, ITF made a solid organizational and administrative foundation by having fully and comprehensively revised ITF Constitution, its By-Law and its supporting regulations and ITF Tournament rules.

Fourth, in the year 2009 it has maintained ITF’s social standing improvement through the close communications and contacts between IOC, GAISF and ITF.

I am in no doubt confident that in a new year 2010 ITF will see a greater success on the strength of our unified efforts and wisdom.

Availing myself of this opportunity I would like to humbly put an emphasis on five points for further progress of our ITF.

First, it should be emphasized on strengthening its role of ITF as befitting International Organization and further consolidation of solidarity with the relevant International Organizations.

The first and foremost the solid unity within ITF and your active support is the most crucial for everlasting development of ITF.

Second, all NGBs are encouraged to raise as many excellent Instructors as can be to secure a high standard technical and Do educations for its members and make a various public- oriented events such as Taekwon-Do tournaments and social services.

Third, strong emphasis goes on dramatic improvement of spiritual, moral and technical standard of Masters and Instructors of ITF.

Especially the ITF Instructors and Masters who are running the Dojang are encouraged to take part in the Master seminar, Instructor seminar and umpire seminar scheduled this new year and make constant effort to upgrade their educational and technical standard for making their Dojangs most vibrant.

Deep consideration and tasks should be taken to keep ITF in a nature of Martial Arts and to educate the ITF members into true Martial Artists.

In conclusion I appeal again to all of our ITF members to build our ITF stronger and popular with joined strong hands irrespective of the past, keeping in mind the last wishes of our TKD founder Gen.Choi, thus leading to historical contribution to making this planet prevailing in harmony and peace.

I remain at sincere service to ITF members as ever.