From 1945 to 1960, there were 40 Kwan throughout Korea which were competing with each other, and this prevented Taekwondo from developing into a unified famous martial art. The Korea Taekwondo Association consolidated those 40 Kwan into 9 Kwan in 1974. At that time, there were about 3000 dojang under those 9 Kwan, with more than 100,000 dan holders (yudanja).
The Korea Taekwondo Association attempted to eliminate the old concept of the Kwan in order to unify Taekwondo. Although there were objections to the elimination of the Kwan system, the Korea Taekwondo Association earnestly began seriously working towards that goal in beginning in 1974. On May 20, 1976, the Korea Taekwondo Association eliminated the names of the Kwans and replaced them with numbers. The following are the Kwan name and their number:
Kwan #1: Song Moo Kwan
Kwan #2: Han Moo Kwan
Kwan #3: Chang Moo Kwan
Kwan #4: Moo Duk Kwan
Kwan #5: Oh Do Kwan
Kwan #6: Kang Duk Won
Kwan #7: Jung Do Kwan
Kwan #8: Ji Do Kwan
Kwan #9: Chung Do Kwan
However, the Moo Duk Kwan had members who were separated from their Kwan, and so Moo Duk Kwan members were under both Kwan #4 (Moo Duk Kwan) as well as Kwan #10, which was designated as the Administrative Managing Kwan (Kwan Ri Kwan).
Section 1: Formation of the Kwan Driving Committee
The real efforts towards Kwan Unification began in 1977. The Korea Taekwondo Association had several meetings in 1976 and 1978 to unify the Kwans, and it was decided that the ten Kwans would be united by the end of July, 1978.
Kim Chul Hui stated: "Let's unify all the Kwan in order to be one." However, other members objected to the suggestion, stating that unification at the present time was premature. However, it was decided which Kwan would participate with the unification and the list was submitted to Kim Un Yong.
In addition, the Kwan Unification Committee (Choo Jin Eui Won Hwe) was created on February 23, 1977, composed of five members. The Committee members agreed in principle to give up the concept of Kwan in order to unify. In addition, the Chong Bon Kwan was created to eliminate all of the negative aspects of Taekwondo. The following people were members of the Chong Bon Kwan:
Kim Un Yong (Chong Bon Kwan Jang)
Lee Chong Woo, Uhm Woon Kyu (Bu Kwan Jang)
Lee Nam Suk (Samu Chong Jang)
Lee Byung Ro, Kang Won Sik (Kam Sa)
Lee Chong Woo, Uhm Woon Kyu, Lee Nam Suk, Kang Won Sik
Kwak Byung Oh (Se Chik Shim Eui Won Hwe)
Kim Un Yong and Lee Chong Woo initiated the efforts to unify the Kwans right after the creation of the Chong Bon Kwan, but little was done. An office was set up at Eulchiro 6 Ga in Seoul, but the Committee did nothing since everyone thought that Kwan Unification was impossible.
After six months the Chong Bon Kwan did recommend some Taekwondo-in for dan promotion and also expanded the Committee's focus nationwide. However, the Chong Bon Kwan's efforts were not going well and it was difficult for the Committee to gather positive suggestions and ideas on this difficult subject.
In July 1978, the Chong Bon Kwan announced that unification would take place in the southern provinces and rural areas first, to be followed by unification in the urban areas of Seoul and Kyungki Do. The Chong Bon Kwan also announced that Kwan Unification is not a problem. In addition, all Kwan Jang (Kwan Presidents) would be informed beforehand so that they could minimize the complications involved in unification. The Chong Bon Kwan's actions confirmed that the unification efforts would go forward.
Section 2: Final Realization of Taekwondo's Deep Rooted Enmity
August 7, 1978, can be considered a historical date for Taekwondo because it was on this day that the Kwans finally compromised and closed the Kwan system with a Proclamation signed finalizing Kwan Unification. The following people signed the Proclamation on behalf of their Kwan:
Kwan #1: Chun Jung Woong (Song Moo Kwan)
Kwan #2: Lee Kyo Yoon (Han Moo Kwan)
Kwan #3: Lee Nam Suk (Chang Moo Kwan)
Kwan #4: Choi Nam Do (Moo Duk Kwan)
Kwan #5: Kwak Byung Oh (Oh Do Kwan)
Kwan #6: Lee Kum Hong (Kang Duk Won)
Kwan #7: Lee Yong Woo (Jung Do Kwan)
Kwan #8: Lee Chong Woo (Ji Do Kwan)
Kwan #9: Uhm Woon Kyu (Chung Do Kwan)
Kwan #10: Kim In Suk (Kwan Ri Kwan)
Lee Byung Ro and Kang Won Sik (both members of the Chong Bon Kwan) signed the Proclamation as well.
The following is what the Proclamation stated:
"Taekwondo will strive hard to unify and will eliminate the different Kwan of the last 30 years.
Since 1972, we unified the Taekwondo terminology and poomsae in order to minimize the differences which existed between the different Kwan. With respect to Dan Promotion Tests, the Sabum in the individual dojang will recommend the candidates for rank advancement. We will do our duty to treat everyone as equals and to work towards a clean administrative procedural system. Because Taekwondo is our National Sport we promise to be good leaders and unify all Taekwondo-in throughout the nation. We will close all Kwan offices and the Chong Bon Kwan will instead coordinate with the Kukkiwon so that we can keep our administration clean. We promise to do our part to unify Taekwondo."
The Proclamation was seen as a turning point because Taekwondo could now work earnestly towards a meaningful unification. Lee Chong Woo, Lee Byung Ro and Kang Won Sik were the people who worked hard and did a good job for Kwan Unification, but there were many more problems to solve.
Section 3: Aftermath of the Unification of the Kwans
Taekwondo faced many new problems and challenges in the aftermath of Kwan unification. The main issue was how upset the Kwanjangs (the Kwan heads) were when they lost much of their ability to oversee Dan promotions.
Originally, the Dan promotion test fee was divided as follows: 30% to the recommending instructor (Il sun sabum); 25% to the instructor's Kwan Headquarters (Chung Ang Bon Kwan); 10% to the province Taekwondo Association (Do Hyop Hwe); and 10% to the instructor's Kwan province headquarters (Do Bon Kwan). However, after the Kwan unification, the Korea Taekwondo Association revised the test fee division as follows: 40% to the Kukkiwon; 40% to the city or province Taekwondo Association (Shi/Do Hyop Hwe); 15% to the Association Headquarters (Chung Ang Hyop Hwe); and 5% for administration costs. Further, the Kukkiwon required that the promotion test recommendation come directly from the Sosokjang which became the Hyop Hwe Deunkrok Kwanjang.
This new arrangement, which became effective in December 1978, caused a lot of trouble because instructors (sabum) now went directly to the Kukkiwon, bypassing their Kwan (Bon Kwan).
Some Kwan members were very upset because the new arrangement took the Kwans out of the Dan promotion system without compensating the Kwans. Some said: "When the government condemns houses, they pay compensation to the owner. But when the Kwans were eliminated, there was no compensation paid".
The Korea Taekwondo Association was unsympathetic to those Kwan voices. Their response was: "Even though you sacrificed much for Taekwondo it is wrong for the Kwans to ask for compensation for their sacrifices. We need to give up the old idea of Kwans in favor of the new system, for the purpose of standardization".
Even though Kwan unification achieved much, including the standardization of Taekwondo, today there are still those who attempt to address or solve the problems caused in the aftermath of the Kwan unification, with the spirit of the Kwans still alive, especially in the countries outside Korea. |
