Response to PATU President JI Ho Choi’s blatant Insult to Pioneers and Leaders of the Global Taekwondo Community “…..for the sake of the integrity of World Taekwondo (WT) as an organization, Mr. Jiho Choi should resign from the WT!” - Gerard Robbins, President/ Founder TAEKWONDO HALL OF FAME® In an article released by MASTKD on 4/6/18 there were several statements made by PATU President Ji Ho Choi about regarding the Taekwondo Hall of Fame and its honorees which were not only grossly inaccurate but perceived by many as being slanderous. Mr. Choi singled out the Taekwondo Hall of Fame stating that it was not official and heavily implied that the award ceremonies are conducted primarily for financial gain at the expense of honorees which he implied were misled. Mr. Choi used the above photo in the article to illustrate specifically which organization he was referring to when making his comments. The photo depicts a well known member of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame wearing the official logo and the ring worn only by members of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame which has been visible and identifiable on online posts for several years. The male adorned with the gold medal he won in world competition is a member of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame who is well respected in the Taekwondo community. The photos thus leave no doubt that Mr. Choi is referring to the Taekwondo Hall of Fame. Furthermore Mr. Choi is quoted in the article as saying “…Every(one) knows there is a Hall of Fame already……” There is little doubt that there are times when an article has errors either due to misunderstanding between the interviewer and person being interviewed. Initially believing Mr. Choi to be a person of integrity, I delayed responding thinking he might request a retraction or correction. However with more than 3 months having passed without correction or retraction I can only conclude that the statements not only originated from Mr. Choi, but were made in a deliberate attempt to defame this organization’s leadership, staff , honorees and the integrity of the organization as a whole.. To begin with the title of the reads that “WT considers Creating the Official Taekwondo Hall of Fame” Mr. Choi’s acknowledgment of the pre existence of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame eliminates the need to comment as it is impossible to create something which Mr. Choi and the Taekwondo world already knows exists. However to state in the article that the Taekwondo Hall of Fame is “not official” as Mr Choi has said is not only false but highly insulting. His comment clearly suggests that the organization is less than legitimate. By doing so, Mr. Cho insults the organization and every person living or deceased who have dedicated their life to Taekwondo, and as a result received recognition from this organization. Furthermore, whether or not an organization or award is “official” is dependent upon various factors. Those factors include but are not limited to the background and integrity of the organization’s leadership and staff, credentials of those persons honored, the expressed recognition (as being official) by persons most knowledgeable in the field. Also being the first of any kind makes that organization the “official” by design. Any organization that follow using the same name that are not affiliated with the original particularly in the instance of trademark registration should be considered as mere copies or “non official”. Since 2007 the Taekwondo Hall of Fame which has achieved registered trademark status has held it’s official ceremony in numerous countries specifically Canada, USA, South Korea, North Korea, Croatia, Russia, Iran and the Dominican Republic. The Taekwondo Hall of Fame has honored persons in more than 60 countries, specifically: Afghanistan, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Columbia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Curacao, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador Egypt, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Montenegro, Nepal, Norway, Netherlands, North Korea, Philippines, Peru, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Tasmania, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, USA, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. This has never been done in the history of Taekwondo. Mr. Choi’s suggestion that he might create a Hall of Fame in the Taekwondo related hall of Fame in the Pan Am region. However the Taekwondo Hall of Fame has already honored most of the notable Taekwondo personalities throughout the world which includes in the Pan Am Region with the intent to honor others specifically in the Pan Am region. Those honorees and countries include: Masters and Grand Masters: Alejandro Chacon Zumbada (Costa Rica), Noemi Prone (Argentina), Fernando Jaramillo (Cuba), Maria Andrea Mancuso (Argentina), Ramon Smith (Dominican Republic), Jose Ramon Reyes (Dominican Republic), Maria Nelly Chacin (Venezuela), Ruben Ayala, (Puerto Rico), Noel King (Jamaica),Inneabelle Diaz Santana (Puerto Rico), Oskar Posada (Colombia), Armando Chavero, (Venezuela), Carlos Hernandez/citation (Venezuela), Michael Vazquez (USA), Michael Warren (USA), Nelson Brizuela Cortes (Costa Rica), Cecilia Jimenez (Bolivia), Chaco Cornelio (Aruba), Stan Nikiel (Canada). Numerous notables from Mexico alone include Ramiro Guzman, Javier Mayen Mena, Isiais Duenas Riestra, Manuel Jurado, Williams De Jesus, and Pilar Leguel. As the two major factions of Taekwondo are WT (World Taekwondo) and ITF (International Taekwon-do Federation), the president of the Official Taekwondo Hall of Fame has appointed two persons to serve as directors representing the PAN AM Region namely Grand Master Porfirio Alvarez and Grand Master Osvaldo Rios Olivero There are national and regional directors and technical advisors in the Pan Am region and around the world. Those persons conduct research, and using specific guidelines and criteria to nominate candidates in several categories for recognition. This contradicts Mr. Choi’s implication that the Taekwondo Hall of Fame is among those organizations that “do not have a strict recommendation and screening process for public to understand and respect the selected decisions.” GM Porfirio Alvarez GM Osvaldo Rios Olivero Grand Master Osvaldo Rios Olivero from Argentina, a student of the late General Choi Hong Hi, President of the ITF Pan Am Council was inducted into the Official Taekwondo Hall of Fame® in 2009. Grand Master Porfiro Alvarez of Colombia was inducted in 2013. Both men can be easily be described as persons, extremely knowledgeable, highly intelligent, and with impeccable character. GM Alvarez gained much experience in the region as special assistant to the late GM Cha Sok Park former President of PATU. Mainly organize such activities to offset their event expenses and create capital gains by misleading recipients. Again as Ji Ho has clearly identified by photo the organization whose founder is this writer (Gerard Robbins), it would lead the reader to believe he was referring specifically to this writer’s organization. As Mr. Choi has clearly singled out the Taekwondo Hall of Fame by using the photo of our member, the reader is led to believe that Mr. Choi is referring specifically to the Taekwondo Hall of Fame, or at minimum placing the Taekwondo Hall of Fame in the same category as other Halls of Fame who may be operating in an inappropriate manner. “Mainly organize such activities to offset their event expenses and create capital gains by misleading recipients”. Here Mr. Choi conflates requesting fees to support an organization similar to others which is normal, with a scheme devised merely to make a profit. Along with the photo of a member of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame Mr. Choialso implies that the Taekwondo Hall of Fame is operating surreptitiously with the wording “Institutions in the shadows”. MOST PRESTIGIOUS CEREMONY HOSTED IN THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS VENUE Perhaps the most prestigious ceremony of its kind ever held in the history of Taekwondo was when the Taekwondo Hall of Fame held its official ceremony in Kukkiwon World Taekwondo Headquarters on August 25, 2011. Numerous Taekwondo leaders from around the world were in attendance including Professor Kook Hyun Jung world first 4 Time world champion and GM Dong Keun Park Korea’s greatest all time national champion. The ceremony was presided over by GM Won Sik Kang the president of Kukkiwon shown here addressing the spectators and honorees. GM Dong Keun Park (l) and Professor Kook Hyun Jung (r)) named Korea’s all time greatest national and world Champions at the historic ceremony held at Kukkiwon World Taekwondo Hqts. in 2011 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM TAEKWONDO NOTABLES AROUND THE WORLD Below is a partial list of letter of recognition received from pioneers, leaders and champions from all over the world acknowledging the authenticity and official status of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame. Master Cesar Rodriguez Luna World Silver Medalist Mexico 1/06/06 GM Won Chik Park, President U.S. Taekwondo Grandmaster Society 3/27/06 GM Kim Bok Man Founder of Taekwondo in South East Asia 7/08/06 Master Daniel Hollinger, President ITF-Suisse Switzerland 11/24/06 Dave Askinas, CEO / Secretary General USA Taekwondo 4/05/07 GM Jhoon Rhee, Father of Taekwondo in the USA 4/06/07 GM Kyung Ho Min, Pioneer of AAU TKD & Chair. University TKD 4/06/07 GM Sang Min Cho, Founder of Taekwon-Do in Brazil 6/01/07 GM Benny Rivera , Father of Taekwon-Do in Puerto Rico 7/10/07 GM Young Il Kong Pioneer of Taekwon-Do Vietnam 10/23/07 GM David Kim, USA Coach 1st World Taekwondo Championships 2/10/08 Master Ji Ho Choi, President of WTF Pan Am Taekwondo Union 2/01/08 GM Mounir Ghrawi, Founder of Taekwon-Do in the Middle East 3/23/08 GM Jong Soo Park, Pioneer Instructor & Former.