The 9th Changnyeong County Governor's Cup World Hapkido Championship to Be Held on the 18th

Over 500 Competitors from Korea and Abroad
to Gather at Changnyeong Gymnasium

Changnyeong County, Gyeongnam Province, will host the 9th Changnyeong County Governor's Cup World Hapkido Championship at the Changnyeong Gymnasium from July 18 to 19, 2026.

The tournament is organized and managed by the Byeonkwan Hapkido Association, a nonprofit corporation, with support from Changnyeong County, the Changnyeong County Council, and the Changnyeong County Sports Association. This year, over 450 athletes from Korea as well as more than 50 international participants from 10 countries, including Germany, Mexico, and the United States, are expected to take part.

The 9th Changnyeong County Governor's Cup World Hapkido Championship held.
[Photo by Changnyeong County]

On the first day, July 18, individual competitions will be held by gender and category. The six event categories are Bare-Handed Forms (Kwonbeop), Weapon Forms (Staff, Sword, Nunchaku), Self-Defense, Far Roll, Breaking, and Speed Kicking. Participants are divided into five groups: Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School, and General divisions.

The opening ceremony will be held at 11 a.m., featuring a performance by a Hapkido demonstration team sure to captivate the audience.

On July 19, there will be three-member and five-member team competitions regardless of gender or division. These team events will be demonstration matches for both bare-handed and weapon forms, evaluated on accuracy, artistry, difficulty, and proficiency.

The Byeonkwan Hapkido Association, which is hosting the event, is headquartered in Yeongsan-myeon, Changnyeong County, and has opened Byeonkwan Hapkido dojangs in countries such as Germany, Spain, and Mexico. The association is committed to promoting the global reach of Korean Hapkido and publicizing Changnyeong's exceptional cultural and tourism resources.

A Changnyeong County official stated, "We hope this event will provide an opportunity to raise global awareness of Changnyeong, and we will do our best in preparing the tournament so that both domestic and international teams can enjoy memorable experiences and take away fond memories."

The 9th Changnyeong County Governor's Cup World Hapkido Championship is expected to foster international camaraderie among athletes, further the globalization of Korean Hapkido, and strongly promote Changnyeong’s excellent cultural and tourism assets.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.