Not many Koreans are familiar with Turkmenistan. Please introduce your country to the people of Korea.

One of the states that belonged to the former Soviet Union, Turkmenistan is located in Central Asia. With a population of about 8 million, the country is not large but we are enjoying significant growth with a number of construction and infrastructure projects currently underway. Many Korean companies have invested in the booming construction industry in my country. Also, Korea has set up an embassy in Turkmenistan two years ago and various efforts have are going on to promote cooperative ties between our two countries.

As you are leader of your organization, I expected that you might look somewhat older. Is there a secret to your youthful appearance?

(Laughter) I’ve trained my mind and body for many years by practicing taekwondo almost every day. Maybe that’s the secret. Also, my family really loves kimchi and we make it by ourselves at home. I think that has played a part, too.

How did become interested in learning taekwondo?

During the era of the Soviet Union, martial arts were prohibited, so I knew little about taekwondo. Then, one day, I happened to watch taekwondo matches on TV and I could see how much footwork techniques were involved. As a fervent soccer p, I was confident about my ability to do any sport using my feet. So, the moment I saw taekwondo matches on TV, I instinctively felt, “That’s a sport for me.” After the fall of the Soviet Union, quite a number of taekwondo instructors came to Uzbekistan to promote the sport, and that’s how I started. Since then, I have ceaselessly continued to study and practice this marital art. I have also participated in a number of taekwondo competitions held in Central Asia. And in 2002, I competed in the Asian Games held in Korea.

What was so appealing about taekwondo that you became so devoted to it?

It’s not just about physically training your body. You also learn to have respect and consideration for others. I think the essence of taekwondo is in the fact that it helps you cultivate your mind. Therefore, whenever I practice taekwondo, I really feel great because I can feel myself being developed, physically and mentally. Also, in Korea all generations, from young children to seniors, can learn and enjoy taekwondo together, which was very impressive to me. Its appeal to all age groups is especially meaningful.

This is your fourth visit to Korea. Do you recognize any differences here since the time of your first visit?

I visited Korea for the first time in 2002, to participate in the Korea Open International Taekwondo Championship, held in Chuncheon. Since this coincided with the Korea-Japan World Cup, I was lucky enough to see with my own eyes the passionate Korean soccer fans, all clad in red, rooting for their national squad. It was such an energetic scene that I would never see in any other country in the world. On the day Korea played Turkey in the third-place match, I was in Daegu. So, I wore a red T-shirt and joined the cheering crowd. I won’t be able to ever forget this exciting experience.

Later, I had an opportunity to look around the country, visiting Ulsan, Busan and Daegu, among other places. At that time I had the impression that Koreans are always very kind and courteous. I have visited several places here, but my previous trips were mainly to attend competitions. So, I needed to focus on my matches. But this time, I feel quite different because I can see and experience the country from a broader perspective. Koreans remain as considerate and passionate as ever, and I can also notice that the economy has been making steady progress in economic terms.

This time your itinerary here is focused on attending the World Youth Taekwondo Camp. What do you have to say about the camp?

The camp seeks to provide the young generation from around the world with an opportunity to experience diverse cultures and communicate with one another through taekwondo. It was really great to see young people of different nationalities, but all loving taekwondo, come together and make friends. Regrettably, young people of Turkmenistan were unable to participate in this year’s event, but I hope they can join the the camp next time. Also, personally, I had a great opportunity to meet and share my ideas with officials of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) and the Asia Taekwondo Union, including the current heads of both groups.

How popular is taekwondo in your country?

Turkmenistan joined the WTF as late as 2000. Being a latecomer, we have made slow progress with not so many ps. But, after it became an official sport of the Olympic Games, it is now significantly better known. Thanks to the strenuous efforts exerted by the Korean Embassy to promote taekwondo in Turkmenistan, I expect an increasing number of people will come to enjoy it.

As president of the National Taekwondo Center in your country, you probably face a number of challenges. Is there any support that you need from Korea in order to realize your organization’s goals?

First of all, we seriously lack taekwondo instructors in Turkmenistan. If Korea dispatches qualified instructors, it would be of great help for us to train professional ps. In particular, if they are from Korea, the country where taekwondo was originated, it will help attract much more positive attention.

As I have mentioned earlier, we have a very poor environment for teaching taekwondo in Turkmenistan. To give it a big boost, we need to take a practical approach by laying the groundwork first. It will be very helpful to promote taekwondo in my country, if the WTF could provide material support, such as training equipment, uniforms, and funds to build more training facilities. It’s now been a year since I took office. I think I have a lot more to do in the days ahead than what I’ve already done. I’ll do my best to raise awareness of taekwondo and improve conditions for its development in my country. I also hope relations between Korea and Turkmenistan will become closer through this martial art.

Text by Ahn Ki-ok, Photographs byPark Jeong-ro