Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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몸은 현실에, 승부는 가상에서” 아시안게임 첫 정식 종목 ‘버추얼 태권도’

Virtual Taekwondo is poised to make its debut as an official medal sport at this year's Asian Games and in light of this event our Shin So-eun was out to venture into the virtual arena.
Do take a look.

Two athletes face off, trading kicks, blocking attacks, and waiting for the perfect opening.
Yet not a single blow physically touches their opponent.
Instead, each athlete’s avatar is calibrated to reflect their height, gender, and kicking angles, capturing even the subtle movements that translate into a point gauge in the virtual arena.


A total of five sensors, two on each leg and one on my jacket, track every movement of my body, creating my virtual avatar. Once the VR headset goes on, I’m transported straight back to a virtual battleground.

Each bout consists of up to three 60-second rounds, with the first athlete to take two rounds winning the match.
Although it is considered an esport, trained Taekwondo athletes have a clear advantage, as real-world skills determine their performance rather than button controls.
16 athletes representing eight countries will compete among them, South Korea's Ahn Hyang-sik is also set to take part in traditional Taekwondo sparring.

“From the outside, it may look like we’re just kicking the air, but it demands intense training and stamina. Competing in two events is tough, but I’m determined to win both.”

By removing weight classes and allowing mixed-gender matches, Virtual Taekwondo enables athletes to compete on equal footing.
Smaller athletes can capitalize on speed and combinations, while taller competitors benefit from their reach, turning physical differences into strategic advantages rather than limitations.

“I think understanding distance and knowing when to land your kicks are key to improving performance in an actual match.”

Backed by a global Taekwondo network with more than 12 million registered Kukkiwon rank holders, Virtual Taekwondo is now building its own certification courses for match operators.


Marking a new frontier for e-sports, Virtual Taekwondo blends the physicality of Korean traditional martial arts with AI and virtual reality.
Making its Asian Games debut, this sport signals taekwondo’s innovation for a future generation, while pushing the boundaries of mat-based competition.

Shin So-eun, Arirang News, Muju.

#VirtualTaekwondo #AsianGames #Esports #VR #버추얼태권도 #아시안게임 #이스포츠 #가상현실 #arirangnews #아리랑뉴스

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2026-08-28, 17:00 (KST)