Lineage of the Original masters of taekwondo starting at Choi Hong Hi (1918–2002)

Original masters of taekwondo is a group of twelve South Korean martial art masters assembled by the Korea Taekwon-Do Association (KTA) in the early 1960s to promote the newly-established art of taekwondo.[1][2][3][4][5][6] In alphabetical order following Korean naming conventions, they are: Choi Chang Keun, Choi Kwang Jo, Han Cha Kyo, Kim Jong Chan, Kim Kwang Il, Kong Young Il, Park Jong Soo, Park Jung Tae, Park Sun Jae, Rhee Chong Chul, Rhee Chong Hyup, and Rhee Ki Ha.[3]

The group came under the leadership of Choi Hong Hi (1918–2002),[1][2][3][4] inaugural President of the KTA and later founder of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF)