This study conceptualized the experiences of participation in participatory international Taekwondo championships using the free associative word technique with Korean and foreign participants in order to reinvigorate such participatory international ...
This study conceptualized the experiences of participation in participatory international Taekwondo championships using the free associative word technique with Korean and foreign participants in order to reinvigorate such participatory international Taekwondo championships. Thus, this study aims to provide the basic data needed to establish marketing strategies for the reinvigoration plan of participatory international Taekwondo championships based on the participants' experiences.
The participants of participatory international Taekwondo championships held in Korea including Chuncheon Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships, Kimunyong Cup International Open Taekwondo Championships and World Taekwondo Hanmadang were selected as the research subjects (N=1015), and a questionnaire survey was conducted using the convenience sampling method among non-probability sampling. The collected data were coded, categorized and visualized using NVivo 12.0, and the frequency analysis and cross-tabulation were performed using PASW/WIN ver 25.0.
The results of the analysis are as follows. First, the frequency analysis of free associative words of participatory international Taekwondo championships perceived by Korean participants showed that the number of analyzed words was 206 and the frequency of the collected words was a total of 1,827. On the other hand, the frequency analysis of free associative words of participatory international Taekwondo championships perceived by foreign participants showed that the number of analyzed words was 184 and the frequency of the collected words was a total of 1,218. The semantic unit categorization of Korean participants of participatory international Taekwondo championships was composed of 12 nodes while that of foreign participants was composed of 11 nodes. The subject unit categorization of Korean and foreign participants of participatory international Taekwondo championships showed that categorization was made with 3 subject units in both.
Second, cross-tabulation on the subject unit categorization of Korean and foreign participants of participatory international Taekwondo championships showed a significant difference.
Third, cross-tabulation of free associative words according to the demographic characteristics of Korean participants of participatory international Taekwondo championships showed that a difference from the free associative word was observed according to 'type of championships', 'age', 'participating event' and 'participation type', but there was no difference according to 'gender' among the demographic characteristics.
Fourth, cross-tabulation of free associative words according to the demographic characteristics of foreign participants of participatory international Taekwondo championships showed that a difference from the free associative word was observed according to 'type of championships', 'gender', 'age' and 'participating event', but there was no difference according to 'participation type' among the demographic characteristics.
Therefore, a marketing strategy for each competition is needed in order to highlight the unique characteristics of the international Taekwondo championship, and to allow participants to participate in and watch the championships constantly. Furthermore, based on the difference in the empirical perception between Korean and foreign participating players, the direction for development of international Taekwondo championships should be sought.