In October 1982, General Choi met with Mr. Csandi, Chairman of the Programming Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in Budapest, Hungary, to discuss IOC recognition of the ITF. In April 1984, Choi visited Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch, President of the International Olympic Committee, in Lausanne, to prove to him that the ITF was the only governing body of true Taekwondo.

In September 1984 Choi Hong Hi invited key instructors such as Lee Su Hi, Rhee Ki Ha, Park Jung Tae and Choi Jung Hwa to Pyongyang to finalize the publication of his Encyclopedia of Taekwondo.

A desire to establish a strong location for spreading Taekwondo throughout the world, especially in socialist, Third World countries, and politically disadvantaged countries, led the ITF to consider leaving Canada. In December 1984, the Fifth ITF Congress meeting in Vienna unanimously decided to relocate the ITF to Vienna, the capital city of Austria. In 1985, the ITF moved to Vienna and Choi published the Encyclopedia of Taekwondo, which documented all Taekwondo techniques.

On September 20, 1985, during the administration of Kim iL Sung (North Korea) and General Chun Doo Hwan (South Korea) visitors and art performers of South and North Korea were exchanged simultaneously between the two countries. It was the first time in 40 years since the division of the country that separated families in two Koreas had an opportunity to meet their lost families. An art performance was held at Pyongyang Grand Theatre by the South, and at Seoul National Theater by the North on September 21 and 22.

On June 11, 1986, Choi took the DPRK Taekwondo demonstration team to the People's Republic of China. The members of the Korean Taekwondo team made a wonderful performance and created a stir in the capital of Beijing, and in the cities of Xian and Jinam. It was Taekwondo's first appearance in China and the performance made a deep impression on the people. This visit eventually became the motivation for the Chinese people adopt Taekwondo as a martial art.

General Choi Hong Hi died of stomach cancer on June 15, 2002.

General Choi promoted only a 4 masters to 9th degree black belt. He promoted the Korean Rhee Ki Ha to 9th degree black belt on July 1, 1997; Rhee was one of the most important masters of original ITF and a close friend of Choi. On December 8, 1997, Choi promated the Korean Wnag Kwang Sung to 9th degree black belt. On May 01, 2001 Choi promoted the Korean Park Jong Soo to 9th degree black belt. All these Koreans had been in Taekwondo over 45 years. On December 9, 1997, Choi promoted an American, Chuck Sereff to 9th degree black belt.

Choi Jung Hwa, General Choi's son, was born on Cheju Island, and received his first training at 5 years of age from General Choi himself. From 7 years old, Choi Jung Hwa was trained by the top military Taekwondo masters, for example the legendary Han Cha Kyo and also by Master Kong Yon Il. Hwa was promoted to 8th degree black belt by General Choi on May 11, 1996 in the original ITF.

General Choi may have over exaggerated his part in "founding" Taekwondo, but his work through the ITF certainly did much to make Taekwondo a Korean martial art that is freely practiced around the world, while the WTF made it a Korean martial art that is permitted to be used around the world but only under the strict control of Koreans in Korea. Those who criticize General Choi's political views and his battle with the KTA during the 1960's tend to overlook all the controversy and shame the leadership of the KTA and WTF has bought to Taekwondo worldwide in the 2000's.