Well, not really. First we would have to agree on what is "Original" and then on what is "TKD"
Per General Choi's 1965 Book. The lowest grade rank - White Belt was 8th -7th, Then Blue 6-5, Then Brown, 4-1st, Followed by Black (Degrees). (Also explains early use fo the Brown Belt) In the 1972 Book it was 10 Grades / Gups WYGBR. Likely the original system copied that of the early Kwans Which copied earlier Ryus, and the change along with the meaning for the colors was part of giving TKD a unique identity.
I had not considered the impact of Gen. Choi's influence on early American & even Korean TKD. However, red belt (rather than brown belt) was an original belt color for Chung Do Kwan (of which Gen. Choi was an early student). I'm still inclinced to believe that the brown belt was the color of choice (even for Gen. Choi) out of ease of availability because Karate & Judo (who both used the brown belt) were using it. I see it as a practical reason to change to brown belt.
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