Taekwondo as an Academic Field of Study for Non-Koreans: An Unconventional and Extreme Form of Martial Arts Tourism

Many Korean universities grant undergraduate and graduate school degrees in part on coursework, theses, dissertations that explore Taekwondo through various academic lenses Studies programs, yet only a few individuals have traveled to the Peninsula study academically. Traveling internationally earn university degree martial art can be considered extreme arts tourism. This multidisciplinary explores motivations of non-Koreans who studied academically Korea as well their aspirations after graduation. The utilized combination autoethnographic techniques interviews with given up years lives, thousands dollars, home cultures, languages, food, families travel foreign order Taekwondo. Twelve participants were identified met selection criteria, but eight responded interview requests. nine participants, including author, came from wide assortment backgrounds, all shared passion for Taekwondo; now, most (n = 5) jobs within industry, two professors separate Departments study’s findings elucidate why thereby offer suggestions how improve this educational market.