What is a gam-jeom in taekwondo?
B · Beginner · Penalties · 6 of 6A gam-jeom is taekwondo's one penalty, declared by the referee for any prohibited act. Each one adds 1 point to the opponent's score. An athlete who collects ten loses the contest. For passive fouls in the last ten seconds of a round, the opponent gets 2 points for the one gam-jeom.
How it works
- Who gives it: "Penalties shall be declared by the referee."
- What it costs: "one (1) point for the opposing contestant".
- Ten: the referee declares the athlete the loser "by referee's punitive declaration".
- Best of three: five in a round lose that round, and ten across the rounds still lose the contest.
- Last ten seconds: a gam-jeom for crossing the line, falling down or running away then gives 2 points. One gam-jeom is recorded.
- Points after a foul: cancelled. The referee gives the penalty and invalidates the score.
- A second one: a foul followed by an attack after "Kal-yeo" or by unsporting behaviour may bring a second gam-jeom.
- In the rest period: misconduct more than five seconds after the round ended is recorded in the next round. Within five seconds, it goes on the round that has ended.
- After the clock: a gam-jeom can be given and scored after the match clock has run out.
- The coach: misconduct by the coach is penalised with a gam-jeom against the athlete.
The glossary has gam-jeom, the prohibited acts entry, the penalty entry, the referee, the disqualification entry and the best of three entry.
Tricky cases
Is there a warning before a gam-jeom?
Not in the rules read. Every listed prohibited act is penalised with a gam-jeom.
With eight seconds left in a round, an athlete steps out to avoid a kick. What is scored?
Two points to the opponent, with one gam-jeom recorded against the athlete.
An athlete has nine gam-jeom and is leading by 12 points. One more?
The contest is lost. Ten gam-jeom end it whatever the score.
A coach shouts abuse at the referee. Who is penalised?
The coach's athlete, with a gam-jeom. For excessive misconduct the referee may also raise a yellow card to ask for a sanction.
Why the rule exists
The rule book gives three aims for penalties: the athlete's safety, fair competition and encouraging proper technique. One kind of penalty with one price is easy to follow from the stands, and making it a point for the opponent means a foul never pays.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Any time | 1 point to the opponent | WT Article 14.3 |
| Last ten seconds, passive fouls | 2 points to the opponent | WT Article 12.3.5.1; 14.3.1 |
| Standard system | Ten gam-jeom lose the contest | WT Article 14.7 |
| Best of three | Five in a round lose the round | WT Article 14.7.1 |
| Team competition | A team with 40 gam-jeom loses | WT Article 22.8.3 |
From the rule book
World Taekwondo, Competition Rules & Interpretation (in force 1 June 2026), Articles 12.3.5, 12.5 and 14. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: WT Competition Rules & Interpretation, 1 June 2026 (PDF).