A news report said Friday the U.S. military command in Seoul is considering making taekwondo, a traditional Korean martial art, compulsory for every American soldier stationed on the peninsula.

Currently, 15,000 U.S. combat troops in the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division near the border with North Korea participate in least one hour of taekwondo sessions each week.

The American military newspaper Stars & Stripes said the U.S. garrison at Yongsan in central Seoul will assign appropriate people to study a proposal requiring all 37,000 American troops in South Korea learn taekwondo.

The proposal was made by Kim Mu-nok, who oversees the taekwondo program at the frontline division along with eight other masters.

According to the paper, Maj. Gen. John Wood, commander of the U.S. 2nd Division, said taekwondo is inspiring to his soldiers and sets a good example of "how to work and develop and how to grow as men and women in this division".