The second Consul General’s Cup Taekwondo Championship was held in Hong Kong on Monday, with around 400 South Korean residents and local trainees in the special administrative region (SAR) taking part in the event.

The championship was hosted by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in Hong Kong and co-organized by the Federation of Korean Associations in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Taekwondo Association.

“Sports transcend borders and language barriers,” said Seo Man-gyo, ROK consul general in Hong Kong, at the opening ceremony.

Noting that taekwondo is not just a martial art but it also represents the traditional South Korean discipline, Seo said he hopes the athletes gathered at the event can display sportsmanship beyond victory or defeat, showing mutual respect and sharing friendship through fair competition.

Seo, who arrived in Hong Kong on Oct 5, is the new ROK consul general in the SAR. He is a seasoned China expert, with a master’s degree in economics from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Hua You, deputy commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR, attended as the guest of honor.

Other guests and representatives included Lai Hau-shing, deputy secretary-general of the Hong Kong Taekwondo Association, Moon Ik-saeng, president of the Korean Association in Hong Kong, and Lee Dong-seob, president of the Korean Association in Macao.

Before the competition began, the event also featured a taekwondo performance by the National Demonstration Team from Baekseok University’s Department of Taekwondo in South Korea, which drew cheers and applause from the audience.

Various South Korean food and health products were also showcased at the event.