The Moodukkwan, translated as "martial virtue school," was founded on November 9, 1945 in Seoul, Korea. It was one of the five original Kwans which were opened after the liberation of Korea from Japan, at the end of World War II. On May 7, 1947, Hwang Ki, Moodukkwan Central Director, dispatched instructors Nam Sam Hyun and Lim Myung Soon to Daejeon (the first branch gymnasium in the country), where they taught Tangsoodo, at the baseball field and yard of the Daejeon's Gwangjang Square, near the railroad depot. From 1950-1953, training was disrupted due to the Korean War. The Daejeon Moodukkwan reopened in 1954 and the black belt members helped spread Tangsoodo to the military base at Camp Age, in nearby Hoedoek (location of basic training for early Taekwondo instructors being dispatched to Vietnam during the 1960's), and guided the youth around Daejeon Station, while helping to maintain order during the turbulent, post-war times. Additional classes were conducted at the 5th dormitory of the Labor hospital as well as the Chungnam Provincial office. The railroad supply house No. 3 was constructed in 1955 and seniors from the time testified that whether it was raining or snowing, they would fill military bags with sawdust and hang them to train their punching and kicking. This building was disassembled and moved to it's current location on September 25, 2023 and has been preserved in it's original state. It has been designated as a National Historical/Cultural landmark. By 1960, 75% of martial arts students in Korea were from Moodukkwan. After the military revolution of the early 1960's, through continuous development, the nine major Kwans (5 original and 4 post Korean War) were integrated and in 1978, were absorbed by the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters). Regardless, this early Moodukkwan eventually laid the foundation for the global spread of Tangsoodo and Taekwondo, which is now practiced by over 100 million people in 211 countries. The Daejeon Moodukkwan training facility is older than the Kukkiwon-World Taekwondo Headquarters by 25 years. 

The current Central Director, Dr. Oh No Kyun states, "We have gathered again, under the laurel flag, a symbol of peace, on this sole remaining training ground. I hope that this railroad supply warehouse will become a valuable place to experience the early days of Tangsoodo/Taekwondo's history and overcoming difficulties. We pledge to honor and carry forward the pure and noble spirit of the pioneering Moodukkwan masters, and designate this place as the World Headquarters of the Moodukkwan, regardless of style."