General Choi’s Final Words (as told and recorded directly to GM Hwang, Kwang-Sung K-9-1)
(Please note, this is my translation of the original Korean text)
ALSO NOTE, THERE IS A MISCONCEPTION THAT THIS WILL WAS TOLD TO “NORTH KOREANS” AND THEN LATER TOLD TO THE PEOPLE PRESENT, THIS IS NOT TRUE! GENERAL CHOI SPOKE THIS WILL TO GM HWANG, KWANGSUNG K-9-1 AND IT WAS HE WHO MADE SURE THAT IT WAS WRITTEN DOWN AS GENERAL CHOI SPOKE IT TO HIM. ALL PRESENT COULD UNDERSTAND GENERAL CHOI CLEARLY (KOREAN) AND HE WAS NOT UNDER ANY SEDATION OR OTHER DRUGS AT THIS TIME!
11 June 2002
I am the man who has the most followers in the world.
I am the happiest man who has done everything to do in my life.
It is very fortunate you have come.
Is Mr. Chang Ung here?
Mr. Rhee, Ki-Ha, it is good you have come. I am glad my son and daughters liked you.
You probably might know Mr. Chang Ung as the tallest Korean and I want to hold the highest position in the ITF.
If only I had been as tall as Mr. Chang Ung, I could have had less opponents, however, as my body was so small that meant many opponents. Thus, all alone, I could not fight them all for ever.
But I have never swayed from justice on my being on my side.
I have always worried about my successor to the presidency, however my mind is set at ease for there is Mr. Chang.
Mr. Hwang, KwangSung, your duties are very big and important as spokesman and the Chairman of the Merger Committee. It is my wish to merge Taekwon-Do into one. Do your duty responsibly.
Mr. Park, Jong-Soo had immigrated to Canada in 1967, before that he taught Taekwon-Do in Europe. In 1972 I went to Canada where Mr. Park resided leaving my family behind.
In those days Taekwon-Do was not as widely known, so I use to say that you would have to crave “Taekwon-Do” on my coffin. Now Taekwon-Do has developed on a large scale.
I love Mr. Tom MacCallum, I have always worried if he might die before me, what I could do to help his family, he as given a lot to the ITF. And I have no secrets hidden from him. Thank you for what you have done. I love you.
Mr. Leong Wei Meng is a man of good conscience, has given a lot to the education of Taekwon-Do, since he was financially well, I thought of him as a stockholder for the Chang Hon Foundation.
Mr. Hwang, Jin is doing well following the path of Mr. Chon, Jin-Sik. So I want to appoint him as a member of the Consultative Committee. Please see to it that the Committee is enlarged to 9 positions to appoint him and Mr. Jong, Jae-Hun.
My followers, Taekwon-Do has never existed without the help of D.P.R. Korea, all should know this. The ITF is an international organization and we do not need to argue about ideology. Does the United Nations belong to the negros because their Secretary General is negro? Please do not think this way.
Taekwon-Do must be centered in Korea.
Choi, Jung-Hwa lied to me at the airport, he deceived me again. You need to tell the public through the internet that I do not forgive him as Taekwo-Doin but I do forgive him as his father.
Unless Jung-Hwa apologizes to the Taekwon-Do world, he should never be forgiven. While I still breathe, please send this message via the internet as soon as possible.
TAEKWON-DO EXISTS FOREVER.
1630 hrs to 1710hrs 11 June 2002
In the hospital in Pyongyang, D.P.R. Korea
In attendance:
Mrs. Choi, Joon-Hi – Canada (wife)
GM Hwang, Kwang-Sung K-9-1 – USA (Aide to Gen., Spokesman for ITF & Merger Committee)
GM Rhee, KiHa GB-9-1 – UK (ITF Vice-President)
GM Park, Jong-Soo – Canada C-9-1 (Member of Consultative Committee)
Master Thomas MacCallum – Austria GB-8-3 (Secretary General)
Master Hwang, Jin – Japan J-8-1 (Member of Consultative Committee)
Master Leong Wei Meng – Greenland GR-8-1 (Chairman of Consultative Committee)
Master Phap Lu – Canada C-8-4 (Member of Executive Committee)
Mr. Chang, Ung – D.P.R. Korea (IOC Member)
Mr. Jong, Jae-Hun – D.P.R.Korea (Sec. Gen. of the International Martial Arts Game Committee)
Mr. Hwang, Bong-Yu – D.P.R.Korea (Chairman of Korea Taekwon-Do Committee)
Mr. Rang, Bong-Man – D.P.R.Korea (Sec. Gen. Korean Taekwon-Do Committee)
