Article 1 (Designation) 
① This Corporation shall be called the World Martial Arts Union association, inc. (hereinafter referred to as "the Union"). 
② The English writing of this Corporation shall be the World Martial Arts Union (abbreviated as WoMAU).

Article 2 (Location) The Secretariat of WoMAU shall be headquartered in the city of Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, Republic of Korea and it may have branch offices if necessary.

Article 3 (Purposes) Respecting the Union's Agreement as a founding charter that was signed on the 2nd of October, 2002 and amended five times, the Union aims to contribute positively to world peace through the exchange of personnel, materials and information in terms of martial arts from various countries and formulating the values of peace and justice through systematically collecting, exchanging and disseminating materials relating to traditional martial arts.

Article 4 (Undertakings) Serving its objectives set forth in Article 3 above, the Union undertakes to:
1. Collect, exchange and disseminate the information and materials relating to traditional martial arts;
2. Conduct study and research on the traditional martial arts such as seminars and academic conferences;
3. Organize or sponsor national and international martial arts demonstrations and/or competitions;
4. Cooperate in projects with international organizations such as UNESCO;
5. Cooperate in projects with national organizations such as the International Centre of Martial Arts for Youth Development and Engagement;
6. Provide administrative and technical assistance to the members with a view to facilitating their participation in the Chungju World Martial Arts Festival and other similar events; and
7. Carry out other projects needed for serving the objectives of WoMAU.

Article 5 (Profit-making Business) If it is necessary to accomplish its objectives set forth in Article 3 above, the Union may engage in profit-making business within the scope of the purpose of its foundation after having obtained the approval of the appropriate authorities.

Article 6 (Providing Profit) Profit resulting from business under Article 5 shall be provided for free to a third party related to the establishment or costs of operating the business in principle. However, the beneficiary may be held accountable for some actual expenses.

Article 7 (Types and Eligibilities of Membership)
① Membership of the Union is classified into full members, associate members and affiliate members.
② (Full membership) A full member of the Union shall be a nationwide organization that has unique tradition of martial arts distinct from others or, if not a nationwide organization, an organization that is recognized as the representative organization of that martial art in that country, which shall agree to and abide by the rules and purposes of the Union. Also, an international federation of martial arts organizations for the same type of martial art, or an alliance of martial arts organizations for different types of martial arts in one country may be a full member of the Union.
③ (Associate membership) International or national martial arts organizations that wish to be a member of the Union but do not satisfy the requirements to be a full member may become an associate member.
④ (Affiliate membership) Individuals, enterprises, research institutes, and associations that agree to and abide by the rules and purposes of the Union and advocate and support the Union’s business may become an affiliate member of the Union.

Article 8 (Rights and Obligations of Members)
① Each member shall execute and/or fulfill its rights and obligations as a member through its representative or through those entrusted by its representative. Each member shall also have the rights to speak and vote in all sorts of meetings including the General Meeting, to serve as an executive and to take part in the operation of the Union through other activities. However, associate members and affiliate members shall not have the rights to vote or serve as an executive.
The other rights of the members shall be to:
1. Make proposals and requests to the Union;
2. Participate in projects hosted, organized and approved by the Union;
3. Organize international events eligible for logo sponsorship from the Union and/or UNESCO just as events organized by the Union (applicable only to the full members); and
4. Be provided with martial arts-related exchange activities, information, and documents.
② Members shall have the obligations to:
1. Observe the Statute, general rules and regulations of the Union;
2. Pay the annual membership dues and allotment imposition decided by the Union;
3. Make efforts in support of the Union’s objectives under Article 3; and
4. Notify the Secretary General of any change of the member’s representative and any major changes in the member’s organization.

Article 9 (Membership Acquisition and Withdrawal)
① A martial arts organization that wishes to join the Union as a member shall file an application form signed by the organization’s representative along with introductory materials of the organization to the Secretary-General of the Union.
② After checking whether the contents of the application are true or not, the Secretary-General shall request the Membership Screening Committee for review by presenting the secretariat’s reviews. When the Committee submits the results of their own reviews to the Secretariat, the Secretary-General shall report it to the General Meeting where the approval of a new member’s application shall be made by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present. Associate and affiliate memberships shall follow the same procedure.
③ If a member wishes to withdraw from the Union, it shall submit a written notification to that effect to the Secretary-General of the Union. The withdrawal shall take effect ten days after the Secretary-General receives such a written notification of withdrawal.
④ Those withdrawn or disqualified as members of the Union shall not raise financial claim to recapture of dues, charges, or other funds they contributed or already paid prior to losing their membership of the Union.
⑤ The Secretary-General shall inform all members of new membership, withdrawal and dismissal immediately.

Article 10 (Awards and Penalties)
① Any member that is credited may be awarded a prize by a resolution of the Board of Directors’ meeting.
② If a member is deemed no longer appropriate as a member by acting against the purposes of the Union, disgracing the Union's honor and dignity, or failing to perform obligations provided in Article 8

②, that member shall lose its membership of the Union on a resolution passed by two thirds majority vote of the members present at the General Meeting.
③ If a member fails to attend three consecutive General Meetings without prior notification of a just cause in a written document or fails to pay membership fees for three years, that member shall lose its rights to vote and serve as an executive. The member whose rights were forfeited shall recover its rights to vote and serve as an executive by fulfilling its obligation to attend two consecutive General Meetings or paying membership fees in arrears.

Article 11 (Classification and Number of Executives)
① The President shall represent the Union, generally govern its business, and convene and chair the Board of Directors meetings.
② The Union’s General Meeting shall have as its elected officials:
1. One Chairperson of the General Meeting; and
2. Six Vice-Chairpersons of the General Meeting.
③ The Union’s Board of Directors shall have as its elected officials:
1. One President; and
2. From 15 to 25 Directors (including the President).
④ Up to two Auditors.

 Article 12 (Election of Executives)
① Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected at the Board of Directors’ meeting by the Secretary-General’s recommendation. Non-members of the Union may be elected as members of the Board of Directors as well.
② The following persons may be ex-officio members of the Board of Directors:
1. High officials of the Chungju City government who are in charge of traditional martial arts;
2. High officials of the Chungcheongbuk-do Provincial government who are in charge of traditional martial arts;
3. Director-level officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism whose duties are related with the Union;
4. The Secretary-General of the Union; and
5. Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons of the General Meeting of the Union.
③ The President shall be elected at the Board of Directors’ meeting by a majority vote of the current members of the Board of Directors and subject to confirmation by the General Meeting. The President’s term of office shall be three years.
④ The Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons of the General Meeting shall be elected among members of the Union at the General Meeting by a majority vote of members present.
⑤ The Auditors shall be elected by the Board of Directors’ meeting by the President’s recommendation, who may be an external expert in accounting or legal affairs.
⑥ The President of the Union shall be eligible for election to the Chairperson of the General Meeting.

Article 13 (Limitations in the Appointment of Executives)
① Persons in kinship as provided in Article 777 of the Korean Civil Act shall not take a majority of the Board of Directors.
② An Auditor shall have no kinship as provided in sub-paragraph 1 above with the other Auditor or any Director.

Article 14 (Office of Executives)
① The terms of office of the executives of the General Meeting and the Board of Directors shall be three years and the office shall be eligible for re-election.
② Any successor of the executives shall be elected one month prior to the expiration of his/her office.
③ If an executive’s position becomes vacant during the term of his/her office, a by-election shall be conducted within two months. A by-election may not be conducted if the previous executive’s remaining office is less than six months.
④ The term of office of the executive elected under sub-paragraph ③ above shall be the remaining office of his/her predecessor.
⑤ The term of office of the ex-officio members of the Board of Directors shall be their tenure of office.
⑥ In the event of the dismissal of an executive under Article 16, the term of office of such an executive shall end on the date of dismissal.

Article 15 (Dismissal of Executives)
① If a member of the Board of Directors or an Auditor conducts any of the following, the Board of Directors may decide to dismiss him/her by two thirds vote of the current Directors:
1. Any acts that defame the Union or that are against the Union’s purposes;
2. Any disputes among executives, accounting fraud, or gross misfeasance; or
3. Any hindrance to the Union’s operation.

Article 16 (Duties of Executives)
① In the event of the absence of the President, the presidency of the Board of Directors’ meetings shall be performed by other director according to seniority.
② The Directors attend the Board of Directors’ meetings to deliberate and decide matters with regard to the Union’s business and deal with matters entrusted by the Board of Directors or the President.
③ In the event of the absence of the Chairperson of the General Meeting, the chairpersonship shall be performed by a Vice-chairperson according to seniority.
④ The Chairperson of the General Meeting has the right to invite a martial arts team representative of a country as well as an additional cultural performance team representative of the same country to the Chungju World Martial Arts Festival to be held during his/her term of office within the budget provided by the Secretariat.
⑤ The Auditors’ duties shall be to:
1. Audit the assets and accounts of the Union;
2. Audit matters related to the Union’s operation and its business;
3. Request the Board of Directors to take corrective actions and report to the competent authorities if any illegality or injustice is found from the results of audits conducted under sub- paragraphs 1 or 2 above;
4. Request the convening of a Board of Directors’ meeting for the corrective actions under sub-paragraph 3 above;
5. Attend the General Meetings and the Board of Directors meetings and express their opinions; and
6. Affix their signs and seals to the minutes of the General Meetings and the Board of Directors’ meetings.

Article 17 (Ineligibility of Executives)
① Any person who falls under any of the following may not be elected as an executive:
1. Minors, quasi-incompetent persons, or incompetent persons;
2. Persons declared to be bankrupt;
3. Persons sentenced to imprisonment or stronger punishment and a full three years have not yet passed after the completion or waiver of the execution of the sentence;
② If any executive falls under an ineligibility cause provided in sub-paragraph 1 above, the President shall dismiss him/her by virtue of the President’s authority.

Article 18 (Installation and Function)
① The General Meeting shall be the highest legislative organ of the Union.
② The General Meeting shall be comprised of all members of the Union.
③ The General Meeting shall deliberate and decide the following:
1. Matters regarding the membership of the Union;
2. Election of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons of the General Meeting;
3. Approval of the President elected by the Board of Directors;
4. Dissolution of the Union, the establishment and amendment of the Statutes of the Union;
5. Matters regarding the acquisition, disposition and management of fundamental properties and liabilities;
6. Matters under its authority by law and/or the Statutes of the Union;
7. Matters to be entrusted to the Union’s Board of Directors;
8. Matters on the date and venue of the next General Meeting; and
9. Other matters brought by the President or the Chairperson of the General Meeting that are deemed important for the operation of the Union.
   WoMAU Agreement(Eng)_Original_20021002.pdf (911.5K)
   WoMAU Agreement(Kor)_Original_20021002.pdf (762.5K)

Article 19 (Convening of the General Meetings)
① The General Meetings are divided into regular Annual General Meetings and extraordinary General Meetings and shall be convened by the Chairperson of the General Meeting or the President of the Union.
② As a rule, the regular Annual General Meetings shall be held every year. However, in case any member hopes to host the Annual General Meeting in a year when the Chungju World Martial Arts Festival is not held, it may be held in the country where the member belongs to.
③ An extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened by the President, in consultation with the Chairperson of the General Meeting, if he/she deems it necessary, or if the Board of Directors deems it necessary and makes a request for the convening of an extraordinary General Meeting.
④ Each member shall be notified of the matters to deliberate, date and venue of the General Meeting at least 60 days prior to the meeting. This provision shall not be applied if there is a justifiable cause where the convening of the meeting is deemed urgent.

Article 20 (Special Provisions for the Convening of the General Meetings)
① If a majority of the current members requests the convening of the General Meeting with the meeting’s purpose clarified, the President or the Chairperson of the General Meeting shall convene the meeting within 60 days from the day on which such a request was made.
② If the General Meeting cannot be convened within the prescribed period in sub-paragraph ① due to the absence of the person with the convening authority or his/her avoidance, the General Meeting may be convened by approval of a majority of the current members.
③ If the General Meeting is convened under sub-paragraph ② above, the meeting shall be chaired by a temporary chairperson appointed among the Vice-chairpersons in order of election first and afterwards in order of seniority, and the meeting shall elect the chairperson.

Article 21 (Quorum and Resolution in writing)
① Unless otherwise provided in the Statutes, a General Meeting shall be opened by the attendance of a majority of the current members, and a resolution shall be made by a majority vote of members present.
② Among matters to be brought before the General Meeting, if necessary, the President or the Chairperson of the General Meeting may refer matters to the resolutions in writing. In this case, the President or the Chairperson of the General Meeting shall report them to the next General Meeting.

Article 22 (Minutes of the General Meetings) The minutes of the General Meetings shall contain the process and results of deliberations and the Chairperson of the General Meeting and two Vice-Chairpersons present shall affix their seals or sign thereto. (1)

Article 23 (Exclusion from Resolutions at General Meetings) Any members that fall into any of the following shall be excluded from resolution processes:
1. Being involved in matters that are related to the member himself/herself regarding the election and dismissal of an executive; or
2. Being involved in matters where the member himself/herself is an interested party regarding the give and receipt or legal proceedings on money or properties.

Article 24 (Installation) The Board of Directors shall be installed for the efficient performance of the Union’s business.

Article 25 (Constitution) The Board of Directors shall comprise the President and the Directors.

Article 26 (Convening) A Board of Directors’ meeting shall be convened if:
1. The President deems it necessary;
2. A majority of the current Directors requests the convening of a meeting with the purpose of the meeting clarified; or
3. An Auditor requests the convening of a meeting in accordance with the Article 16, sub-paragraph ⑤-4.

Article 27 (Function) The Board of Directors shall deliberate and decide the following matters:
1. Matters to be brought before the General Meeting;
2. Matters entrusted by the General Meeting;
3. Matters regarding the approval of budgets and accounts of the Union;
4. Matters regarding the approval and management of major business plans;
5. Suggestion of amendments to the Statutes to be brought before the General Meeting;
6. Matters regarding the establishment, amendment and abolition of the rules and regulations;
7. Matters regarding the management of possessions other than liabilities and fundamental properties;
8. Matters of urgency. However, important matters shall be reported to the next General Meeting for approval; and
9. Other matters brought by the President.

Article 28 (Quorum and Resolution in writing)
① A Board of Directors’ meeting shall be opened by the attendance of a majority of the current Directors, and a resolution shall be made by a majority vote of Directors present.
② Among matters to be brought before the Board of Directors, if necessary, the President may refer matters to the resolutions in writing. In this case, the President shall report them to the next Board of Directors’ meeting.

Article 29 (Minutes of the Board of Directors’ Meetings) The minutes of the Board of Directors’ meetings shall contain the process and results of deliberations and the President, two Directors present, and at least one Auditor shall affix their seals or sign thereto.

Article 30 (Exclusion from Resolutions at the Board of Directors Meetings) Any Directors that fall into any of the following shall be excluded from resolution processes:
1. Being involved in matters that are related to the Director himself/herself regarding the appointment or dismissal of an executive; or
2. Being involved in matters where the Director himself/herself is an interested party regarding the give and receipt or legal proceedings on money or properties.

Article 31 (Secretariat)
① The Secretariat shall be installed as the executive organ of the Union.
② The Secretariat may consist of a Secretary-General and such staff as may be required.
③ In principle, the Secretary-General shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the Mayor of Chungju and with the approval of the Board of Directors. The term of office of the Secretary-General, which is a full-time position, shall be three years, with the possibility of reappointment.
④ The staff of the Secretariat shall be appointed by the President.
⑤ The Secretary-General shall govern the businesses of the Secretariat under the direction and supervision of the President and may be allowed to attend any and all meetings of the Union to express his/her opinions.

Article 32 (Organization of the Secretariat) Matters on the organization, staffing, and operation of the Secretariat shall be stipulated by the Union’s rules and regulations.

Article 33 (Division of Possessions)
① The Union’s possessions are divided into the fundamental properties and ordinary properties.
② The following shall be the fundamental properties:
1. Real estates and movables that are related to the implementation of the Union’s proper purpose businesses. These include properties funded by the founders, etc. and properties designated as fundamental properties by the Board of Directors;
2. Properties that are to be transferred from ordinary to fundamental properties by a Board of Directors resolution;
3. The fundamental properties at the time of the Union’s foundation are as provided in Schedule 1.
③ Ordinary properties are all properties other than the fundamental properties.

Article 34 (Appropriation and Disclosure of Expenses) Expenses required for the maintenance and operation of the Union shall be appropriated from the following incomes. Details in annual donations and their use shall be disclosed through the website.
1. Members’ membership fees;
2. Funding and aids from the government, local government and municipalities;
3. Support, contributions and donations from other organizations;
4. Profits from the fundamental properties;
5. Incomes from businesses; and
6. Other incomes.

Article 35 (Disposition of the Fundamental Properties)
① If the Union’s fundamental properties are to be sold, transferred, exchanged or offered as security, this shall be approved by the General Meeting and the Statutes shall be amended in accordance with the Article 42.
② If the Union’s properties are to be leased, their uses are to be changed, or the Union intends to bear obligations, abandon its rights, or raise a loan, it shall be approved by the Board of Directors.

Article 36 (Limitations in Lending Properties to Executives, Etc.) Anyone that falls under any of the following shall not be allowed to lease or use the Union’s possessions without rightful compensations:
1. Founders of the Union;
2. Executives of the Union;
3. Persons who are in kinship with the founders and/or executives of the Union under Article 777 of the Korean Civil Act and corporations where such a person takes directorship; or
4. Persons who are closely monetarily interested with the Union.

Article 37 (Limitations in Long-term Borrowing) If the Union intends to have a long-term loan, this shall be approved by the Board of Directors and the competent authorities.

Article 38 (Fiscal Year) The Union’s fiscal years shall be in accordance with the Korean government’s fiscal years.

Article 39 (Budgets and Settlements)
① The Union’s business plans and revenue and expenditure budgets shall be prepared at least one month prior to the beginning of each fiscal year and approved by the Board of Directors.
② The Union’s business performance and settlement reports shall be approved by the Board of Directors with an accounting firm’s (or a taxation firm’s) opinions attached within two months after the end of each fiscal year.
③ Any unused budgets of a fiscal year shall be incorporated into the fundamental properties or carried forward the next fiscal year for being used for proper purpose businesses.
④ If there is an unavoidable circumstance where the Union has not confirmed its business plans and budgets prior to the beginning of a fiscal year, the following expenses may be executed in proportion as that of the previous year:
1. Labor costs and maintenance costs for facilities in possession;
2. Execution of legal financial obligations; and
3. Continuing expenses of pre-approved businesses.

Article 40 (Remunerations for Executives and Employees)
① No remunerations shall be paid to the executives. However, they may be reimbursed for actual expenses for the performance of their duties.
② Remunerations and travel expenses for the executives and employees shall be stipulated by the Union rules and regulations.

Article 41 (Committees) If necessary for the promotion of the Union’s proper purpose businesses, the Union may have an executive committee, advisory committee, academic committee, etc.
② Matters regarding the organization and operation of these committees shall be stipulated by the Union rules and regulations.

Article 42 (Amendment to the Statutes) If the Union intends to amend the Statutes, this shall be approved by a majority vote of the current Directors at a Board of Directors’ meeting and a two-thirds majority vote of the members present at a General Meeting and shall be accredited by the competent authorities.

Article 43 (Dissolution) The dissolution of the Union shall be approved by two thirds vote of the current members at the General Meeting and shall be reported to the competent authorities.

Article 44 (Reversion of Remaining Possessions)
① If the Union have been dissolved, any government funds shall be reverted to the funding government and/or municipalities.
② Any remaining possessions other than government funds shall be reverted, under the competent authorities’ approval, to the state, local government and municipalities, or other non-profit corporations with similar objectives that are capable of performing businesses provided in the Statutes.

Article 45 (Report on Operation) Once registered in accordance with provisions in articles 49 through to 52 of the Korean Civil Act, the Union shall submit a copy of its register to the competent authorities within ten days.

Article 46 (the Union Agreement)
① The Agreement of the World Martial Arts Union shall mean the basic agreement signed on the 2nd of October 2002 and amended five times as of 5 September 2013 by the representatives of the martial arts organizations around the world with the aim to organize the World Martial Arts Union to assist in the development of the Chungju World Martial Arts Festival.
② The Agreement of the World Martial Arts Union shall be deemed amended in accordance with these Statutes, and the operation of the Union shall be according to these Statutes.
③ The World Martial Arts Union Agreement shall be as Attachment 1.
④ The national and international martial arts organizations that signed the World Martial Arts Union Agreement at the time of the establishment of the Union shall be as listed as Attachment 2.

Article 47 (Executives under the Civil Act) The President shall be the Chairperson of the Board of Directors under the Korean Civil Act and the Directors shall be the directors under the Korean Civil Act.

Article 48 (Applicable Provisions) The provisions on incorporated bodies in the Korean Civil Act shall apply to matters that are not provided in the Statutes.

Article 49 (Establishment of Rules) Rules that are provided in the Statutes and matters required for the domestic operation of WoMAU shall be set as the Union’s rules by the resolutions at the Board of Directors’ meetings.

① (Effective Date) These Statutes shall enter into effect on the date of registration to the court under the competent authorities’ accreditation.
② (Interim Measures) Any acts by the promoters, etc. for the establishment of the Union at the time of the execution of these Articles of Statutes shall be deemed executed under these Articles of the Statutes and any acts and offices of executives conducted and organized before the execution of these Articles of the Statutes shall be deemed succeeded.