Section 4: Players & Officials
4.1 Competitors
Taekwondo is an individual combat sport. Competitors must hold a valid WT Global Athlete License (GAL) and possess a Kukkiwon-recognized dan certificate. At the Olympic Games, competitors must be at least 17 years old in the year of competition. All athletes must pass weigh-in on the day before competition; the weigh-in window is typically 2 hours for official events.
4.2 Olympic Weight Categories
The Olympic Games feature four weight divisions per gender:
- Men: 58 kg, 68 kg, 80 kg, +80 kg
- Women: 49 kg, 57 kg, 67 kg, +67 kg
World Championships and Grand Prix events use a broader range of eight weight categories per gender, providing finer divisions. Continental and national events may adopt WT-approved weight categories appropriate to their level of competition.
4.3 The Referee
One center referee controls the match on the mat. The referee starts and stops the contest with Korean commands: si-jak (begin), kal-yeo (break/stop), kye-sok (continue), and keu-man (end). The referee declares penalties (gam-jeom), issues warnings, orders medical timeouts, and has authority to stop the match for safety reasons. The referee also declares the winner at the conclusion of the bout.
4.4 Corner Judges and Review Jury
Historically, four corner judges sat at corners of the mat and scored techniques using electronic handheld devices. With the adoption of the full PSS (electronic trunk, head, gloves, and socks), the role of corner judges has shifted primarily to supplementary scoring — awarding points for valid techniques that the electronic system may not register (such as certain close-range punches). A review jury of one or more officials supervises the match, adjudicates IVR challenges, and can correct scoring errors. At major WT events, the Technical Delegate oversees all officiating procedures.
4.5 Coaches
Each competitor is permitted one coach in the designated athlete area. The coach may provide verbal instruction during the match and signal for an Instant Video Replay (IVR) challenge by raising the designated signal card during a break in the action. Coaches may not enter the competition area or physically interfere with the contest. Unsportsmanlike conduct by a coach may result in a gam-jeom against their athlete or removal from the venue.