(A bit off topic, but a correction)

Taekwondo was formally organized into a federation in the 1950's, but it's foundations in Korean martial arts, (particularly Tang Soo Do and Korean Karate techniques developed in conjunction with those in Japan) have been artound for hundreds of years, at least since the warring staets period in Japan.

It's ancient forms (there were several different "DO" techniques used by the different fiefdoms of Korea) were developed as armed and un armed techniques for the armies of the day. The emphasis on kicks can mostly be attributed to the fact that the hands were expected to be holding a weapon (usually a spear). I can'tremember the specific ruler of the day, but much like swords and Karate in feudal japan, the Do arts were made illegal by the rulers of Korea until about a hundred years before the founding of the World Taekwondo Federation and it's Korean counterpart.

As for self defense applications, MAUS is about right. This is not due to a fault in the art so much as the unpreparedness of the practitioners. Sport Taekwondo does not allow punches to the face, and is usually very light contact. Most practitioners become accustomed to this, and cannot adjust to make their training effective in high stress situations.