A Study on the Identity Construction Experiences of Participants in a Taekwondo Performance Honoring Yu Gwan-sun

This study examined the identity construction experiences of university students who participated in Taekwondo performances honoring Yu Gwan-sun. The participants were five Taekwondo major students at B University who had participated in Yu Gwan-sun Returns!, Sarang-ah, and Flame of Joseon. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic analysis. The interview guide was adapted from prior research on Taekwondo demonstration team experiences and revised to fit the purpose of this study. The analysis produced four overarching themes and ten sub-themes: “Encounter with History,” “Feeling the Spirit of Independence through the Body,” “Expansion of Identity,” and “Growth through Performance.” The findings showed that participants constructed multilayered identities as historical inheritors, Taekwondo practitioners, and performers while embodying Yu Gwan-sun through Taekwondo performance. Repeated participation further deepened their identity formation. The findings suggest that Taekwondo performance can serve as an effective medium for history education and identity development.