British youth and community leaders are finding inspiration in the extraordinary success of young martial artists whose achievements show how faith groups can powerfully contribute to youth empowerment through sport.
Athletes from the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji Church of Jesus), recently made headlines with a clean sweep at the 2025 Park Chung-hee Cup International Open Taekwondo Championship—demonstrating how faith-driven youth development can deliver world-class results.
The prestigious event gathered roughly 4,200 competitors from 18 countries including South Korea, France, and the USA. The tournament, held from 18th to 21st July at the Sangju Indoor Gymnasium, featured categories such as sparring, poomsae, breaking, kicking, and performance.
What stands out for UK audiences is the determination shown by Shincheonji’s 25 athletes, who turned minimal training time into remarkable results—securing a total of 25 medals, including 4 golds, 7 silvers, and 14 bronzes.
Gold medal winner Lee Jun-wi offered a humble perspective that will resonate with young people: “Although our training time wasn’t sufficient, I tried my best to concentrate within the given timeframe. I’m grateful that those efforts led to good results.” His comments remind us that effort and attitude can lead to excellence, even in the face of challenge.
Team manager Kim Deok-hun praised the calibre of the international field: “As an international-scale competition, many excellent athletes from home and abroad participated, resulting in high-level competition. I’m proud that our athletes performed to their full potential without wavering. Based on this competition, we will systematically prepare our training system and strategies so that we can participate with more personnel and improved skills next year.”
This performance builds on a series of impressive showings. At the 2025 Kim Un-yong Cup in Busan earlier this month, all 12 Shincheonji athletes earned medals, including first, second, and third places. Similarly, the 2024 Mungyeong World Taekwondo Festival saw 5 of their 18 athletes finish on the podium.
For religious organisations in the UK, Shincheonji’s example underscores the potential of combining sports, values, and structured development. The church actively supports youth engagement in not just sport but also culture and the arts—fostering holistic development and promoting social responsibility.
This inspiring case study reveals how faith-based investment in youth sport can transform lives—shaping not only champions on the mat but also role models for the global community.
