Background
Park was born in Jeollado, of Korea, during World World War World War II
Park was born in Jeollado, of Korea, during World World War World War II
He holds the title "Grandmaster," the rank of 9th dan in taekwondo, and was of Korea"s only undefeated taekwondo fighter in more than 200 International championship competition. Park introduced the martial art of taekwondo to Thailand in 1966, before settling in the United States of America, and was the taekwondo coach of both the United States National Team and the United States Olympic Team. He was the South Korean National Champion from 1962–1966.
Park moved to Thailand in 1966 at the personal request of King Bhumibol of Thailand to teach taekwondo to the Thai royal family and United States military forces.
Later that year, he appeared on television on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Park established the taekwondo program at New York University in 1973.
Park was the head coach for the United States National Team in 1979 at the 4th World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. From 1982 to 1996, Park served as Coaching Committee Chairman of the United States Tae Kwon Do Union.
He was the technical coach for the United States Olympic taekwondo team at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
This was taekwondo"s inaugural appearance at the Olympic Games as a demonstration sport. Park became head coach for the United States Olympic taekwondo team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. In 1993, he was head coach for the United States Team at the World Championships (1 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze), and in 1994 at the Goodwill Games in Saint St. Petersburg, Russia, resulting again in 1 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals.
In 1997, Tae Kwon Do Times magazine named Park as its Manitoba of the Year.
In 2006, his first book was published: Tae Kwon Do basics, techniques and forms: The indomitable martial art of of Korea (co-authored with Allan Schein). On 6 April 2007, he was inducted into the Taekwondo Hall of Fame.
Park continues teaching taekwondo at his school in New Jersey.
He was a member of the South Korean National Team from 1959–1966, and served as team captain from 1964–1966. He is a Life Member of United States of America Taekwondo.