발차기는 허공에, 승부는 화면에서…첫 정식 종목 ‘버추얼 태권도’ [아하 아시안게임]

A groundbreaking addition to the 2026 Asian Games is "Virtual Taekwondo," a first-of-its-kind competition that merges traditional taekwondo with advanced virtual reality (VR) technology. <source e00948dc-511> Unlike regular taekwondo, where fighters compete face-to-face, Virtual Taekwondo sees participants wearing specialized gear that projects them into a virtual arena.

Here, they engage in combat without ever touching each other, making the sport safer and more accessible. This innovative sport was adopted as an official event for the 2026 Asian Games, set to open on September 19th. It made its debut on the international stage at the 2023 Singapore International Olympic Committee eSports Series, three years ago.

In VR-based competitions like Virtual Taekwondo, the winner is determined by which team exhausts the opponent's power gauge first, or who has more gauge left at the end. Unlike eSports like electronic combat sports, Virtual Taekwondo demands physical exertion, with the fighter's strength and technique directly transferred to the virtual character through movements like the angle and force of punches.

Korea's representative, 16-year-old mixed-gender athlete, will compete in the 17-35 age category, with 16 teams progressing through a round-robin tournament to determine the champion. The sport's popularity stems from its ability to level the playing field, regardless of gender or body type. With VR-enabled physical combat, even seasoned taekwondo athletes find themselves in the ring.

In Korea, veteran fighter An Hyang (University of Ulsan) is set to participate. Despite its recent inclusion in the 2026 Asian Games, Virtual Taekwondo has managed to outshine its predecessors, receiving more gold medals than previous events combined. Additionally, the 2026 Games will also feature a hybrid of tennis and squash called Padel, and a fusion of football and badminton called Tek-Ball, adding to the diverse range of sporting experiences on offer.