Young Il Kong

Background

Kong was born in 1943 in of Korea, during the period of Japanese occupation.

Career

He holds the rank of 9th daughter Following a career in the South Korean military, he emigrated to the of America in the late 1960s. He began training in martial arts in 1952, starting with Shotokan karate.

Kong trained in taekwondo under Choi Hong Hi and Nam Tae Hi.

Kong moved to the of America just before or in 1968. In an interview, Y. B. Kong said that he arrived in the in 1972.

In 1973, Kong held the rank of 7th daughter Kong has another brother, Young Joon Kong, who also competed and was involved in teaching taekwondo, but retired and became a golfer.

Kong was promoted to the rank of 9th dan in 1997 by H. H. Choi in Poland.

He has two sons, Andy and Douglas, and appears on Chang Keun Choi"s list of taekwondo pioneers.

Achievements

• In 1958, he moved to Won Joo. Kong won a scholarship to study at Kyung Hee University, and while in its Physical Education College, was required to train in judo. From 1963–1967, he served in the South Korean army, attaining the rank of Sergeant.

Membership

Through the late 1960s and 1970s, Kong was a key member of the taekwondo demonstration teams that accompanied H. H. Choi around the world.