PRESS RELEASE It is with deep regret that U.S. Kukkiwon announces that we have filed suit against Kukkiwon for a breach of contract. U.S. Kukkiwon President Sang Chul Lee exhausted many attempts to reach an amicable agreement with current Kukkiwon President Won Sik Kang, but to no avail. No progress at an agreement was made. Before Kukkiwon became a Special Organization under an act by the government of Korea that came under the Taekwondo Promotion Act, the former President and Board of Directors of Kukkiwon announced the formation of a Kukkiwon Overseas Branch Program and invited any interested parties from around the world to apply and to appear in Korea to make the case for their selection. U.S. Kukkiwon President Sang Chul Lee was successful in getting recognized as the Kukkiwon Overseas Branch in the USA. Further, there is a signed and binding contract between Kukkiwon and U.S. Kukkiwon President Sang Chul Lee. When Kukkiwons status in Korea changed from a Private Organization to a Special Organization it inherited all of the assets and liabilities of the former Kukkiwon administration, including the signed and binding contract agreement with U.S. Kukkiwon. Kukkiwon President Won Sik Kang dismissed the contract and is seeking to start his own KMOS program that is similar to the former Kukkiwon Overseas Branch Program of his predecessor. Mr. Sang Chul Lee has had numerous discussions with Kukkiwon President Kang, including having flown to Korea for a face-to-face meeting to discuss this matter, and a telephone conference call as a final attempt to salvage the contract agreement with Kukkiwon. In January 2011 President allowed a Kukkiwon Instructor Seminar to take place in Los Angeles, CA even though this is in direct contravention of stipulations in the binding contract agreement between Kukkiwon and U.S. Kukkiwon. U.S. Kukkiwon even had a legal Cease and Desist order served before the seminar took place. This order was ignored and the seminar did take place as scheduled. U.S. Kukkiwon has worked, in good faith, to try to resolve this matter and to be able to work under the conditions of its signed and binding agreement with Kukkiwon to help to promote the Martial Arts aspects of Taekwondo worldwide. Unfortunately, this matter has now been submitted to a State Court of Colorado and will go forward unless there is a settlement reached between Kukkiwon and U.S. Kukkiwon that will allow U.S. Kukkiwon to work under the terms of the contract that was negotiated and signed in good faith by the Kukkiwon President who is the predecessor to current Kukkiwon President Won Sik Kang.
Very interesting. Isn't Puunui the legal counsel for USTC? It would be interesting to hear his comment about this, but that is not likely happen given that the matter is now in litigation.
Is this lawsuit against the government of Korea,since the KKW is now a govt. agency? Also was the US KKW supposed to have a monopoly on KKW related events?
Here's the barebones info on the case: We'd have to see the actual complaint for details. The attorney listed for USTC is Richard Lewis Tegmeier of Tegmeier Bednerski Law Firm LLC (www.tegtmeierlawoffice.com). Please note that's not Puunui, who is listed as USTC's legal counsel, on USTC's web site. Colorado Court Database Case Number: 2011CV989(District) Date Filed: 2011-01-27 United States Taekwondo Committee Et Al Vs. Kukkiwon Breach of Contract Summary Judge: Larry Edward Schwartz Court: El Paso County Division: 5 Appealed: Case Status Open Judge or Magistrate Name BAR Number Larry Edward Schwartz 6564 Agency Agency Agency Case Tkt/Summons Nbr Arrest Nbr Related Cases Location Case Number Related Reason Name Participants Litigant Attorney Kukkiwon Defendant 1 DOB: Gender: Unknown Race: United States Taekwondo Committee Tegtmeier, Richard Lewis Plaintiff 1 Role: Privately Retained Attorney DOB: BAR: 2544 Gender: Unknown Primary Attorney: Y Race: Us Kukkiwon Inc Tegtmeier, Richard Lewis Plaintiff 2 Role: Privately Retained Attorney DOB: BAR: 2544 Gender: Unknown Primary Attorney: Y Race: Lee, Sang Chul Tegtmeier, Richard Lewis Plaintiff 3 Role: Privately Retained Attorney DOB: BAR: 2544 Gender: Unknown Primary Attorney: Y Race: Charges Count Date Details Scheduled Events Date Time Details Status: Judge: Larry Edward Schwartz Room: 5 05/27/2011 5:00 PM Review Proceedings Date Code Description 01/27/2011 COVR Civil Case Cover Sheet 01/27/2011 CMPL Complaint Judgments # Date Details Bond Information ID Details Financial Summary Un-Assigned Rcp's Received ----------------- -------- Civil Action Tax $1.00 Civil Filing Fee $90.00 Court Security Cash Fund $5.00 Justice Center Cash Fund $68.00 Stabilization Fund - USER Fee $60.00 Total Un-Assigned $224.00
Wow. I can't believe that the ustc is going to really follow through though. It would end badly for them. They do not control more than 70% of the schools promoting kkw tkd. Dunno what kind of deal there was but am confident the kkw will either win or settle. The us kkw can not claim a monopoly on all kkw events. If they win then everyone would have to go through them for certs. As far as I know you can still go through the usat for certs and I just applied online for my students poom/dan last night at home.
I believe the USTC had nothing to lose,they were very active in trying to keep the govt. out of the KKW. When the change of guard happened we saw the US KKW losing the right to process KKW certificates. Hopefully the KKW will not take any revenge on all those induviduals who signed the petitions for the USTC. I am guessing getting a monopoly on KKW certification and events was exactly what the USTC was after. We will have to wait and see, but I doubt that we will be seeing anything regarding KKW events happening within the USTC from here on out, possibly including the Hamandang.
I think it would be wise if your stick with what you know, instead of what you presume. The lawsuit between USTC and Kukkiwon has nothing to do with 70% of anything or having to go through USTC only for Kukkiwon poom or dan certification. That was never the case, even when the contract was in effect. Personally, I think it is a lack of respect, with a little ignorance and ingratitude mixed in.
I think this is just one prong of a multi pronged spear aimed at President Kang, and it isn't even the main prong. There are a lot of things going on at the moment.
Wrong again. But that is what happens when people voice opinions based on less than accurate or no information. I will say this: One of the founding principles upon which USTC was created was to give American borns an opportunity to receive Kukkiwon training, certification and other opportunities that they may not have had in the past. Those who are opposed to USTC are opposed to this goal. You can see it in the latest Kukkiwon Instructor Course in California for example.
And by the way, that issue is still not resolved, the constitutionality or legality of the law that changed the corporate structure of the Kukkiwon.
The USTC has never once stated that they seek monopoly on anything or even want or seek to be the NGB which is implied by your 70% comment. USTC seeks to build an environment that promotes KKW education. They wish to have both family and a revival so to speak of bringing back many seniors and their students who stopped participating on many levels since the fall of the USTU. The whole purpose of the Hanmadang is to be a large field that gives people of all ages, ranks and abilities motivation to train and share. The USKKW was just another service to be offered by the USTC as a convenience to its members. The Masters teaching license seminars were also being done at cost to make it easier to be more inclusive and to possibly give some hope of resolving the issue helping those who trained for decades under US GM's who charged for KKW certification but never gave it. In addition to that a welcoming atmosphere was being pursued to help our ITF friends to pursue a course of education and certification under KKW if they so desired. The last time I looked USAT was still saying they assist with KKW filings for a fee but no longer imply that they can issue them. I wonder if they are still continuing to issue Dan Certs of their own? I was disappointed to see a 4th Dan skipped to 7th Dan before he had received his 5th Dan but frankly any organization has the freedom to print any paper they want. It will be interesting to see how the next two years go.
I certainally have no axe to grind with the USTC, but suing the KKW is certainally not going to be over quickly and I am betting the plaintif will not be sending their instructors to the USTC until the issue is resolved. What is the insiuation about the latest KKW course? Also was there not another instructor course last year in Cali. not put on by USTC? I am all for more KKW courses in the US but why just the USTC?
Are you talking about a 4th to 7th KKW certification or one of those USAT certificates? `Who signs the USAT certificates? Why do you say the next two years?
Is this the USAT Special Testing you are referring to? If so, I thought the Kukkiwon were the ones examining/certifying the people then? Also, is this a general problem you have with skip dans or a problem with a skip dan jump of so many grades? For example, you said "before he had received his 5th Dan" - would you have had a problem if he was 5th Dan jumping to 7th Dan?
Perhaps I'm being anal about this, but just for the record the USKKW is a separate entity from USTC. While they may share many of the same officers, they are two different organizations. To my knowledge the USTC has never made claim, either externally or internally, that they hoped to monopolize all KKW activities in the US. Their goals have been presented from the beginning of their conception; to help educate the world about the culture, history, and true value of Taekwondo as a Martial Art. They have done this through hosting one World Hanmadang, hosting several FIC seminars, going on hosting their 3rd National Hanmadang and have sponsored two oversea trips to Korea. This particular engagement is between USKKW and KKW and not the USTC. Regardless of the outcome, USTC will still be a thriving organization which will still provide top training and events to Taekwondo-in and other martial artists in the US. 123