Grandmaster Jin Young Jung is now a member of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame. He was inducted on August 25, at a ceremony in his hometown, Seoul, South Korea.
Jung is credited with introducing taekwondo to Trinidad and Tobago in the 1970s. The Korean-born instructor came to T&T in December 1975, and opened a taekwondo school on Borde Street, in Port of Spain one year later. Since 1988, he has had a martial arts school on Bellesmythe Street, in Woodbrook.
Jung's most famous student is Cheryl Ann Sankar. Jung coached Sankar at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
"Yeah, yeah," Jung told the Express, "she is the best."
The veteran taekwondo expert said he has always set very high standards for his students.
"They chose me (for the Hall of Fame) because I am an old master. I have awarded 31 black belts in my 36 years in Trinidad. Many instructors would have about 1,000 black belts. I do it the honest way. That's the kind of thing they spoke about."
In an official invitation letter, the Hall of Fame's executive director, Gerard Robbins paid tribute to Jung.
"It gives me great pride to inform you that due to your hard work and long term commitment to Tae kwon do you have been selected to receive special recognition as 'Pioneer of Taekwondo' in Trinidad & Tobago."
The venue for the 2011 induction ceremony has great historical significance.
"This year," Robbins explained, in the invitation letter, "will prove to be a landmark year as we will be holding our ceremony in Korea the birthplace of Taekwondo.
"Furthermore, the location of this year's ceremony will be the historic Kukkiwon gymnasium which was the venue of the 1st World Taekwondo Championships in 1973 and several international competitions since."
-Kwame Laurence
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