Chang Ung is the current honorary life president and former president of one of the 3 International Taekwon-Do Federations, a former IOC member from North Korea, and now an IOC honorary member. The previous president, General Choi Hong Hi died of stomach cancer on June 15, 2002. On September 22 of that year, 70 representatives from 46 countries attended a memorial service for General Choi Hong Hi. The solemn and memorable service was held in Pyongyang, North Korea. Choi was born in 1918, in northern Korea. He also served in the South Korean army where he fought against the North and later developed Taekwon-Do. Choi Hong Hi spoke to a select group of ITF officials and high-level instructors on his deathbed at Pyongyang Hospital. It was recorded that there might be no misinterpretation of his intentions regarding the future of the ITF. The following is an excerpt:
These last words were witnessed by: Mr. Rhee Ki Ha, Grand Master and former Vice-President of the ITF; Mr. Tom MacCallum, Master and the Secretary General; Mr. Leong Wei Meng, Master and the Chairman of the Consultative Committee; Mr. Kwang Sung Hwang, Grand Master, spokesman and special aide; Mr. Park Jong Soo, Grand Master and a member of the Consultative Council; Mr. Hwang Jin, Master and a member of the Consultative Council; Mr. Hwang Bong Yong, Chairman of the Korean Taekwon-Do Committee; Mr. Jong Jae Hun, Secretary General of the International Martial Art Games Committee and Mr. Rang Bong Man, Secretary General of the Korean Taekwon-Do Committee A special Congress of the ITF and memorial was held at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on September 22, 2002, after Choi's death. It was here that Presidents and representatives from 46 national Taekwon-Do federations unanimously elected Mr. Chang Ung, member of the International Olympic Committee, as president of the ITF. He was re-elected as president on October 13, 2009. Senior Master Phap Lu's Open Email
stated on October 22, 2002, in an that,
"General Choi did not speak his last words with the constitution in mind. He spoke as a CREATOR of the art. When he was alive what he said was law, in death are his words are no longer valid?" It is here that he explains the background behind General Choi's reason for choosing Chang Ung as successor. People in the ITF see it as a great honor to meet him in person. Regarding the Legal Status of Chang Ung's ITF
- The ITF was registered to the Austrian Police in 1986. This has been renewed in January 2003, September 2004, 30 May 2007, 23 February 2009 and renewed 30 November 2009, pursuant to the law of Austria.
- The ITF was recognized as the International Sports Organization by the Austrian Sports Federation and printed on the “Year Book” of Sports for 2004/2005 and for 2005/2006 as the sole International Sports Organization of which Secretariat has been located in Vienna, Austria.
- The ITF was registered to the Finance Ministry of Austria as Non-Profit-Civilian Organization in November 2004.
- The ITF became a Signatory Federation to World Anti-Doping Agency in July 2010. In 2009, Mrs. Choi Chun Hi, widow of General Choi Hong Hi spoke at the 19th ITF Congress in St. Petersburg, Russia. She stated, "I wish you would support Prof. and Dr. Chang Ung, and be with him with one mind and one will for the brighter future of the ITF".
Members
127 member countries were confirmed at the 20th ITF Congress held in Minsk, Belarus on August 24, 2010 Continental Federations
- Asian Taekwon-Do Federation
- European ITF Taekwon-Do Federation
- Oceanic Taekwon-Do Federation
- Pan American Taekwon-Do Federation
- Taekwon-Do Federation of Africa Professor Chang Ung is also the president of International Martial Art Games Committee. Chang has been an advocate for Asia's third Winter Games, stating that it would help the development of winter sports in the region which are "still far behind" Europe and North America. In 2015, Chang resigned and was replaced by Ri Yong-son as the President of ITF. At the end of 2018 Ung ceased to be a member of the IOC retiring as per protocol after turning 80.
