In the Kukkiwon / World Taekwondo (WT) system, student ranks before black belt are called Geup (급), meaning “grade.” Black belt ranks are called Dan (단), meaning “degree.” There are typically 10 Geup levels, starting from beginner (10th Geup) and counting down to 1st Geup, the level just before black belt.
| Geup | Belt Color (Typical) | Korean Name | English Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | White | 흰띠 (Heun Ddi) | Beginner | Symbol of purity and readiness to learn. |
| 9th | Yellow Stripe | 노란띠 줄 (Noran Ddi Jul) | Earth – foundation | Often the first promotion. |
| 8th | Yellow | 노란띠 (Noran Ddi) | Laying the foundation | Associated with stability and growth. |
| 7th | Green Stripe | 초록띠 줄 (Chorok Ddi Jul) | Growth | Represents sprouting skill. |
| 6th | Green | 초록띠 (Chorok Ddi) | Development | Continued growth in technique. |
| 5th | Blue Stripe | 파란띠 줄 (Paran Ddi Jul) | Sky | Reaching upward toward knowledge. |
| 4th | Blue | 파란띠 (Paran Ddi) | Expansion | Deepening control and calm. |
| 3rd | Red Stripe | 빨간띠 줄 (Ppalgan Ddi Jul) | Danger / Caution | Power emerging; must learn control. |
| 2nd | Red | 빨간띠 (Ppalgan Ddi) | Fire / Passion | Preparing for mastery. |
| 1st | Brown or High Red | 고급 띠 (Gogeup Ddi) | Readiness | Final step before black belt. |
After 1st Geup, students test for 1st Dan black belt (or Poom for juniors). Belt colors may vary slightly by school, and some use tags or half-colors between levels. Kukkiwon officially certifies Dan ranks; Geup ranks are awarded by individual dojangs that follow the 10→1 structure.