Dear ITF Members,

Ushering in New Year of 2013, I am, as the President of the ITF, honored to render my hearted congratulations and appreciation to the entire members of ITF and their families and beloved ones.

And also, my sincere and special gratitude should go to all Taekwon-Do practitioners and their parents, Grand Masters, Senior Masters, Masters, Instructors, Coaches, Umpires, Supporters and Volunteers over the World for the great achievements attainted in the activity of ITF in 2012.

It was another year of 2012 with brilliant work done by every NGB, Continental Federations, Standing Committees and EB of ITF for which EB Members, Chairpersons of the Committees, the Presidents and Secretaries General of NGBs and the Continental Federations have devoted themselves for the prospective and strengthening of ITF world over.

Our Federation through the year of 2012 showed off to the World that the belief and loyalty to the Taekwon-Do philosophy and legacy of Gen. Choi Hong-Hi, the Founder of Taekwon-Do remained solidly unchanged and will keep going on the same forever.

The year of 2012 should be characterized for our Federation to be cemented further in the unity of the leadership, NGBs and members of the family and new ideas and initiatives for the development of ITF Taekwon-Do.

The last year should be featured with a plenty of valuable lessons and precepts for ITF in the operation and management of the Federation from which we have to profit by the good or mistakes that have been made.

As all of you know very well, last year marked the 10th Anniversary of Gen. Choi’s passing and ITF organized the grand memorial ceremonies to remember our Father Gen. Choi Hong Hi together with his family members on 15th June in Pyongyang, DPR Korea where he rests in peace.

On this new year’s day, I would like to remind you that all of his disciples must do everything to implement his last words in the near future which is the only way for us to be able to honor our Father, Gen. Choi, while staying with him forever.

In order to attain the goal and target in a short time, our sustainable united efforts and solidarity should be indispensible to fulfill every responsibility and obligation assigned to everyone by the Federation in 2013.

The radical targets and action plans for ITF in 2013 which have to be achieved, are as follows:

• ITF should keep paying special and constant attention to strengthen and consolidate its unity and solidarity among the members of its family, without which we can’t obtain any smallest success in our activity in this world. ITF leadership firmly keeps “Zero-tolerance” to anyone committing violence against the Constitution and Bye-Laws with a slightest attribute jeopardizing the unity of the Federation, which has to lead heavy and serious punishment and sanction to the relevant person or organ.
• ITF leadership, NGBs and High-Ranking Black-Belt holders should get ready to cope with the big influence from “Tzunami Wave” in 2013 in the Olympic Movement and International Sports arena, which are to change their leadership in 2013.

Incumbent President of SportAccord should retire from the position at SportAccord General Assembly to be held in May, 2013 in St. Petersburg this year.

The evolution and reformation in management and operation of the Olympic Movement and International Sporting activities could be derived from the changes of the leadership of the organizations which we have to pursue and follow up the progress and trend so as for ITF to be able to capitalize the situation in 2013.

• ITF should actively seek for any possibility of compromise with WTF immediate future as the Olympic Sports program to be altered at IOC 125th Session to be held from 7th September this year in Buenos Aires.
• ITF will pay due attention to cementing and consolidating the better relationships with other International Organizations like the IOC and Sport Accord through frequent contact and talk with the leaders of the organization whenever the opportunity would come.
  On the one hand, ITF leadership will make its very effort to offer NGBs with favorable condition to be recognized by the government and authority in the countries where the NGBs are still not recognized by government or authority.
• ITF will introduce “the Video Review System” to make further transparent and fair result of the decision in sparring competitions from the World Championships to be held in Sofia, from 15th to 22nd July, 2013 on the protest against the decision of Sparring competitions if any.

The year of 2013 encourages us to look ahead and strive to move forward with the practical action plans to bring the ITF up to an even higher stage.

ITF is now occupying in favorable position internationally and legally, therefore our future is exclusively in the hands of our members whether the destination of the Federation to meet a success or not.

On this vital important occasion, I urge and call all of you to do your utmost to carry out your assignments and obligation authorized by the Federation to fulfill your job and responsibility in 2013 so that we could reach to our goals authorized by the Founder and Federation with the World Championships, Continental Championships, Congresses and EB Meetings, Seminars to be held in this year.

I am and remain always at your disposal at devoting myself fully to our members and the ITF.

I will be very happy to listen all of you and continue my dedication to gaining more support from you, without which I can do nothing for ITF.

Only through the united actions and efforts among us, we will reach to the bus stop where our target and goal are waiting for us.

Thank you.