Master Yeongwan Yun: Bringing His Dream to America — The Philosophy Behind His New Dojang

By Naehyung Woo, Chief Editor

Sometimes, we are amazed by the “courageous choices” made by those who have already achieved success.
There was a man known as a “top master” in the Taekwondo education world, having produced nearly 25,000 black belts in Korea alone.
Yet, he left behind his career, his stable position, and moved with his small family to a modest city in California, USA, to begin another new challenge.

This is the story of Master Yeongwan Yun.
Why did he, a beloved figure among children in the heart of Gangnam, suddenly choose to go to America?
Why did he leave behind familiar success to start over in an unfamiliar land?

In our first conversation, he shared his thoughts — and the word “Hyo” (filial piety) became the key theme of this interview.

Interview Q&A
Q1. It’s been a while. I remember you as a very successful master in Korea — why America all of a sudden? Could you share what kind of path you walked as a Taekwondo instructor in Korea, and what meaning you found in producing 25,000 black belts?
Answer:
I spent decades teaching Taekwondo in Korea, producing nearly 25,000 black belts along the way.
In that process, I felt a responsibility far beyond simply teaching techniques.
Taekwondo is not just a martial art that trains the body — it is an education that helps people grow.
I felt deeply rewarded every time I saw children gain confidence, learn respect, and grow into people who honor their families and contribute to society.
One thing I realized is this: Taekwondo is not merely a sport — it has the power to transform people and make the world a better place.

Q2. What motivated you to open a dojang in the U.S., and why did you choose America? What meaning does this challenge hold for you?
Answer:
Opening a school in the U.S. was a dream I had carried in my heart for a long time.
Because Taekwondo is part of Korea’s cultural heritage, I wanted to share its spirit with American children and parents as well.
Personally, I also wanted to test if my philosophy and teaching, which were needed and appreciated in Korea, would resonate here too — just as they did when I opened my first dojang in Gangnam.
Especially, I wanted to teach the uniquely Korean value of Hyo (filial piety) through Taekwondo.
America is a diverse place, but I’ve noticed a societal trend where character education in children is weakening.
I wanted to contribute to changing that.
And I also felt I needed a new challenge — to see if my teaching and philosophy could stand anywhere in the world.

Q3. But you named your dojang “HYO” Taekwondo — which must be hard for Americans to pronounce. Why did you decide on this name?
Answer:
It’s true that “Hyo” is not easy for Americans to pronounce.
But it was a name I could not compromise on.
At the heart of my educational philosophy has always been Hyo, which means respecting one’s parents and honoring others.
I wanted American children and parents to learn the meaning of this word from the moment they first heard it — and to grow alongside it.
Rather than choosing a name that was simply easy to say, I felt it was more important to convey this precious Korean value.
A name reflects the philosophy — and I believe that philosophy is what drives the school forward.

Q4. What has been the hardest part of preparing to open your school in America, and how did you overcome it?
Answer:
It’s now been about seven months since I arrived in the U.S.
Honestly, the hardest part was suddenly having so much idle time after being busy every single day in Korea (laughs).
There were also big differences in administrative procedures, culture, and systems.
Even after signing the lease, I had to prepare permits and approvals, and everything worked differently from Korea, so I had to learn step by step.
There were language barriers, and it wasn’t easy managing logistics and equipment shipments from Korea either.
But I kept facing each challenge head-on, without giving up, and solved them one by one.
Above all, holding on to my original mission — “to help children grow the right way” — gave me strength.
When your goal is clear, you can endure any hardship.

Q5. Is there anything you’d like to say to American parents and students? And what are your future goals?
Answer:
To American parents, I’d like to say this: Taekwondo is worth much more than just physical exercise.
It’s a way for children to train both body and mind, to respect themselves, and to learn gratitude toward their parents.
Right now, I’m finishing up permits and bringing equipment from Korea, but I’m already excited about meeting American children and parents soon.
My goal is to share the value of Hyo with many more American children and raise many more students here as well.
Someday, I hope to help “Hyo” take root as part of the culture here too.

Every word from Master Yun still carried the heart of an educator.
He chose mission over comfort, and challenge over stability.
Some might call his choice reckless.
But it seemed he could already see the day when children here smile as they learn the word “Hyo” and grow into people who honor their parents.

We cheer for Master Yun’s journey as he starts from the beginning again, writing a new story with the children in this new land.

Coming Next:
“The Dojang Is Still Under Construction” — What It’s Like to Build a Taekwondo Dojang in America

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