ENROLLED
Page 1 of 3
Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 96
BY REPRESENTATIVE POPE
A RESOLUTION
To express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Master Ki Byung Yoon.
WHEREAS, it was with deep regret and profound sorrow that the members of the
Louisiana House of Representatives have learned of the death of Master Ki Byung Yoon on
Sunday, October 31, 2010; and
WHEREAS, "Master Ki" was a native of South Korea and a longtime resident of
Baton Rouge, and though he had no family in the city, he was beloved by many citizens of
Louisiana who considered him a vital part of their lives and the lives of their families; and
WHEREAS, on March 20, 1941, Master Ki was born to Yoon, Sang Jo and Kim,
Chang Young in Wonju City in the Kangwondo State of South Korea, and he began studying
martial arts at a young age, earning a black belt by the age of sixteen; he was a particularly
gifted student, able to think spatially in three dimensions and possessing an acute kinesthetic
awareness; and
WHEREAS, upon moving to Seoul for college, Master Ki continued his study of
taekwondo, faithfully attending the Han Guk Che Yuk Kwan, known as the "Harvard of
Taekwondo", and studying under Lee, Jong Woo, who later organized the World Taekwondo
Federation and made Taekwondo an Olympic sport; Master Ki graduated from Sung Kyun
Kwan University with a bachelor of liberal arts in education on February 27, 1965; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from college and serving for nearly three years in the
Korean army as a military policeman, Master Ki came to the United States for graduate
studies, first at Park College in Parkville, Missouri, and then working briefly in Mississippi
before settling in Baton Rouge as a participant in the English Orientation Program at
Louisiana State University in August of 1967; and
WHEREAS, Master Ki taught the first taekwondo course at LSU and began teaching
courses for the general public in 1969, beginning with his first school at 2550 Plank Road, ENROLLEDHR NO. 96
Page 2 of 3
moving briefly to a place on Foster Drive, and eventually starting his own gym at 4440
Jeffery Drive, where he taught until his death; and
WHEREAS, in 1971, Master Ki organized the first Southern Invitational Karate
Championship in Baton Rouge at the St. Anthony Church gym, attended by many high-
ranking black belts, including Kim Yoo Jin as the guest of honor; by this time, Master Ki
had a fifth degree black belt, and he would later reach the eighth degree; and
WHEREAS, in addition to teaching taekwondo, Master Ki also attended vocational-
technical school and was awarded a certificate for radio and television repair in 1972 by the
Louisiana State Board of Radio and Television Technicians; and
WHEREAS, for nearly four decades in Baton Rouge, Master Ki expertly trained
numerous students and produced many black belts, some of whom studied with him for
thirty years or more and some of whom are now martial arts teachers themselves; he was a
dynamic, creative teacher who developed personalized training programs for each student;
and
WHEREAS, despite his limitations due to ALS, Master Ki continued to teach his
unique techniques to his last group of students, who, along with those who came before
them, will carry both his taekwondo and life lessons with them for the rest of their lives; and
WHEREAS, Master Ki imparted to his students that taekwondo transcends kicking
and punching; he taught them that its significance dwells not only in being an art form but
in the mental training involved in the sport; by sharing his knowledge, he both challenged
and changed his students and the way they approach their lives, studies, and work; and
WHEREAS, ultimately, Master Ki, who became an American citizen and an integral
member of the Baton Rouge community, used taekwondo to teach people not to fight but to
become better human beings; and
WHEREAS, throughout the course of his exceptional teaching career and as he
courageously battled ALS, Master Ki showed himself to be a man of uncommon strength
and dignity, and he earned the love and respect of the countless people whose lives he
touched; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of this state were truly fortunate to have Master Ki as an
honorary fellow Louisianian, for he brought deep honor to the state and all of her citizens
as an individual whose dedication to excellence was inspiring and unwavering; and ENROLLEDHR NO. 96
Page 3 of 3
WHEREAS, seldom are there citizens who enjoy the reputation earned by Master Ki,
who was known as a man of his word and a remarkable teacher who accomplished much by
the sheer force of his own intelligence, credibility, and integrity; and
WHEREAS, it is only appropriate to take proper notice of Master Ki's remarkable
accomplishments and to express the immense pride of the people of the state in this beloved
individual and their immeasurable grief at his passing; and
WHEREAS, Master Ki is sorely missed and will forever be respected and
remembered as a determined man of principle and for his singular dignity, humility, and
wisdom.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the
death of Master Ki Byung Yoon, does hereby recognize that his wonderful legacy shall
forever endure, and does hereby record for posterity the abiding appreciation of the citizens
of Louisiana for the outstanding contributions and achievements of this extraordinary
gentleman.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to Kukkiwon, World Taekwondo Headquarters, World Taekwondo Federation.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES