The outdoor atrium at the International Vaccine Institute headquarters in Seoul was filled with energy and excitement. On the afternoon of 12 September, a very special taekwondo class took place with IVI Goodwill Ambassador and former Wonder Girls member Hyerim Woo, her husband Mincheol Shin, and their son Siwoo Shin, who currently appears on KBS’s The Return of Superman.

The program, “Protect your health with vaccines, strengthen your mind with Taekwondo!,” was more than just a Korean martial art experience — it was a moment connecting the importance of vaccination with the pursuit of a healthy life.

A family affair: Goodwill Ambassador and her family lead with heart

With IVI researchers and staff as students, the class was led by taekwondo master Mincheol Shin, head of the MIRME Taekwondo Demonstration Team and former captain of the Kukkiwon Demonstration Team and the K-Tigers.

To ensure everyone could follow along—including IVI’s international staff and participants from the IVI International Vaccinology Course—interpretation into English was provided by Goodwill Ambassador Hyerim Woo, who is also a professional interpreter. Their son Siwoo delighted everyone with his energetic mini Taekwondo demonstration.

Kicks, chops, and confidence: What participants learned

Providing a well-rounded lesson, the MIRME Taekwondo Demonstration Team engaged participants with:

• Warm-up and basic techniques: Learning fundamental moves such as punches, knife-hand strikes, and front kicks
• Learning terminology: Practicing taekwondo terms in both Korean and English, from “fist” to “knife-hand” and “front kick”
• Board breaking experience: Participants wrote down their personal stressors on wooden boards, then broke them using their newly learned techniques
• MIRME demonstration performance: A powerful, high-level taekwondo showcase that wowed the audience

Twenty employees joined the class and, working up a sweat, could not stop smiling. Wearing IVI dobok or Taekwondo uniforms, they broke boards and strengthened bonds with a renewed commitment to health and harmony.

By: Jinmyeong Hwang, intern
Published: 21 October 2025