Kookhakkigong is a Korean low-impact, meditative breathing system or sport for mental, spiritual, and physical health established in the 1980s. The ‘qigong’ concept has its roots in Chinese medicine, philosophy and martial arts and qigong has been regarded as a practice system for invigorating qi, life energy.
History/Development
Kookhak Kigong has been introduced and spread since the 1980s by Seunghun Lee, who was motivated to improve physical and mental health through Korean’s own way of practice. Practitioners claim that the system’s historical foundations can date back to the spirituality of Gojoseon, an ancient Korean Kingdom established BC 2333, or Three Kingdoms era around 570 AD. However, it has not been clarified whether it has links with the old traditions.
Korea Kookhak Kigong Association gained full membership of Korean Sport & Olympic Committee in 2016. The association has been distributing to 5,000 entities across Korea, including public organisations, schools, and welfare centres.
Transmission (Policies/institutions)
Kookhak Kigong has been transmitted to 20 countries, including the U.S., Japan, and Canada (Yang 2019). Supported by central and local governments, international competitions like ‘International Sportskigong Competition for All’ has been held annually attracting more than several thousand practitioners from different countries.
Criticisms have been raised against the founder Seunghun Lee and Kookhak Kigong’s emerge. Christian organisations claimed that Kookhak Kigong is not scientific and educational practice, but affiliated with pseudo religions capitalising on rising interest in health.
Relevant Organisations
-Korea Kookhak Kigong Association
Additional Materials
References
-Yang, HM. (2019). Korea Kookhak Kigong Association Holds the 7th International Sportskigong Competition for All (대한국학기공협회, ‘제7회 생활체육 국제국학기공대회’ 개최). Dong-A Ilbo
