However, in the latter half of the Yi Dynasty, Soobak began to decline into merely a recreational activity for ordinary people. After 500 years of rule, the Koryo Dynasty declined and with it, Taekwondo.The new reign was non-military and even anti-military. A period of ”civil enlightenment" set in, during which anything related to military training was frowned upon. By the end of the Yi Dynasty, martial arts had completely disappeared.

The final blow to the arts came with the Japanese occupation in 1909, when it was forbidden to practice any martial arts. However, Taekyon survived among stalwarts by being successfully passed on to a handful of students.

Many Koreans, oppressed at home, emigrated to study and work elsewhere, including China and Japan. No restrictions on unarmed martial arts training existed in these countries, and for the first time in over a thousand years, Taekyon was exposed to other forms of unarmed self-defense. This proved to be an enriching development. Taekyon not only survived, but with the challenge, it became stronger, more refined, and ultimately prevailed over it's rivals.

With the liberation of Korea in 1945, its post-occupational emigres returned with the newly improved Taekyon and Soobak. They also brought various names indicating particular emphases, such as Tangsoodo, Kwonbup, Konsoodo, and Soobakdo. In 1955, however, the board of head instructors, historians, and other prominent promoters chose the name Taekwondo as the new title of Korea's national martial art of self-defense.

Finally, in 1961, the Korean Taekwondo Association was formed and KTA was given official membership in the Korean Amateur Sports Association.

In 1972, the Kukkiwon (Institute for the National Sport) was established in Seoul and became the main educational and training headquarters of the Korean Taekwondo Association.

Today, more than 30 million people (including more than 2 million black belts) in over 120 countries practice the modern martial art of Taekwondo. Anyone practicing Taekwondo, whether Korean or not, can be proud of it's 2000 year history.

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