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Munya Chimanye – Youth Interactive Correspondent

The Korean Embassy on Thursday hosted a prize-giving ceremony for their Taekwondo Poomsae Awards online contest at the Grand Hall at the University of Zimbabwe as part of their Korea week celebrations.

Where in past years the Korean Embassy has hosted a reception for other embassies and Government officials, this year’s celebrations of the National Foundation Day of Korea and Chuseok, a day of Korean Thanksgiving, were staged in the form of their first Korea Week, consisting of celebration in three categories.

Korea Week ran from October 3 to 9 and the categories, namely: the Korean Speaking Contest, the Taekwondo Poomsae Contest and the last of those the Korean Cooking Contest, accepted applications virtually between September 1 to October 3 in which applicants would showcase their ability and knowledge of Korean culture, showing a bond between the two nations.

The Taekwondo Poomsae Contest received close to 100 applications from Taekwondo enthusiasts in Zimbabwe, from whom 33 were chosen to receive recognition from the Zimbabwe Taekwondo Association and the Korean Embassy.

Among notable attendees of the prize-giving were the Korean Ambassador to Zimbabwe Do Bong-Kae, who gave opening remarks in which he explained Poomsae and ratified the relationship between Zimbabwe and the Republic of Korea. He was accompanied by an entourage of embassy personnel, the president of Zimbabwe Taekwondo Association Benson Zwizwai, and UZ Dean of the Faculty of Business Management Sciences and Economics Dr David Mazvikanda, who gave closing remarks at the awards ceremony.

Ambassador Bong-Kae said, “Taekwondo Poomsae is the style of conduct which expresses mental and physical refinements as well as principles of offense and defence.”

The ambassador also commended the Government for its vaccination roll-out programme, which made it possible for the prize-giving and many other events to take place.

The Poomsae competition, the first of its kind to take place in Zimbabwe, was open in four categories: above-12 non-belt il-jang; below 12 belt and non-belt il-jang; above 12 colour belt sa jang; and the above 12 black belt koryo.

One of the numerous prize-winners Spencer Kondo described Poomsae as a Taekwondo essential that was to be performed as both a warm-up and cool-down when practicing the sport.

Each category had a first, second, third and fourth prize, who received cash prizes of US$500, US$300, US$100 and US$50 respectively.

A number of winners walked away with prizes, more often than not two or more contestants sharing fourth, third or second prize.

The ages of the winners varied, the youngest of the winners being 10-years-old.

Winner of the 12 black belt koryo was 26 year-old Tyler Kawocha, Taekwondo coach for the UZ and Manyame Airforce base who has been practicing Taekwondo for 10 years but still as insistent on improving his Poomsae as the day he began.

“Taekwondo is not about punching and kicking, it is a mindset that helps you help yourself,” said Kawocha.

Activist, founder of Underaged People’s Auditorium and Taekwondo enthusiast Natsiraishe Maritsa, 17, who helps young girls become aware of their rights through empowerment in the form of Taekwondo training, was present with 10 of her constituents.

Maritsa led her pupils in two Poomsae for the benefit of the audience. She received US$400 of funding from the Korean Ambassador that was later matched by Dr Mazvikanda who promised a full scholarship to any one of her pupils who would in the future apply to study at the UZ.

Ambassador Bong-Kae also handed over training equipment and uniforms to the Zimbabwe Taekwondo Association.