The South Korean community in Venezuela began when Chiong Hoe-Nyun, who studied the Spanish language at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) in Seoul, migrated to Maracaibo in the early 1960s. Immigration from South Korea increased with Venezuela's economic prosperity in the 1970s, and a South Korean embassy opened in Caracas in 1973. There were 300 South Koreans living in Venezuela as of 2011.[2][3]
Taekwondo was brought to Venezuela between 1968 and 1970 by three South Korean teachers: Howo Kan in the Capital District, Cho Kon in Carabobo, and Hong Ki Kim in Anzoategui.[7] Since then, the sport has gained popularity in Venezuela and the country has accumulated major singles titles, making itself one of the world leaders in Taekwondo during the 1980s and 1990s.[8][9]
