The world’s taekwondo athletes are gathering in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, for the World Taekwondo Championships.

The 20th world championships kicks off on Sunday at Gyeongju Indoor Gymnasium and will run until May 6.

More than 1,000 athletes from 149 countries will compete in the biannual event, according to the World Taekwondo Federation.

The athletes are divided into eight male and eight female categories for the preliminary round. The semifinals and finals will take place May 2-4.

A total of 80 referees, including 60 referees from the WTF training camps for the 2012 London Olympics, will adjudicate at the championships.

To help the judges, the championships will use electronic protectors and instant video replay systems. This year, for the first time, athletes will earn four points if they deliver an effective turning kick to the opponent’s head.

Apart from the competition, the championships will also feature a two-day international symposium under the theme “The Realization of Olympism through Taekwondo Education” April 29-30. It will also hold a photography contest and a children’s art contest under the theme “World Peace Through Taekwondo.”

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)