Speakers
Description
Taekwondo received more media attention when the Kukkiwon Teakwondo Demonstration Team and World Taekwondo Demonstration Team performed well at American TV talent shows, and in turn, more foreign Taekwondo trainees became interested in studying Taekwondo at the University level. However, there are few empirical studies on factors affecting their decision to study Taekwondo in Korea. Drawing upon Altbach’s push & pull model, this study explores the factors that determine foreign Taekwondo trainees’ decision to study Taekwondo in Korea. Based on interviews with 15 participants, this study reveals that: (1) push factors from their home country are environmental factors (the lack of infrastructure, equipment, supplies, and institutions), economic factors (market ability and profitability of Taekwondo gyms), institutional factors (unsystematic organization of local institutions), educational factors (level of local instructors, training methods, and outdated content), social factors (relationship with Korean instructors). (2) Pull factors to South Korea are environmental factors (high-quality facilities, and abundant equipment), economic factors (scholarships and income from part-time jobs), institutional factors (systematic operation and events), educational factors (high-level education and new content), social factors (social position after studying Taekwondo in Korea, formation of a global network, and the possibility of choosing various careers). Taekwondo instructors have a significant impact, because they provide information about Korea to foreign Taekwondo trainees and help them study abroad. The results of this study indicate that Taekwondo instructors can activate foreign Taekwondo trainees to study abroad in Korea, which may also have an influence on the structure of Taekwondo departments in Korean universities.
