09/27/2026
The world lost an incredible man.
Not just a Taekwondo Grandmaster. Not just someone who changed countless lives. Someone who changed the world. His influence was passed on to so many, and they carried it to every corner of the globe.
When I first met Grandmaster H.K. Lee, I was intimidated. Honestly, I was scared of him. He was a giant in the Taekwondo world, a true pioneer, one of the first to build what he built. Being in his presence felt almost surreal.
Then I found out he was a gentle giant.
What I learned from him wasn't just martial arts. It was how to make every single moment with every human you meet memorable. Even if you only cross paths with someone for a few seconds, you make those few seconds change their life. That is who Grandmaster H.K. Lee was.
He loved his family. He loved his children more than any words I could ever write.
Grandmaster Lee was not my direct teacher. He was the older brother of my teacher, Master Byung Seok Lee. But the training, the camps, and the certifications of his that I attended in my younger years formed me into the man I am today.
It is with a heavy heart that I offer my condolences to the Lee brothers and their families.
Not just the Taekwondo world, sir. The world itself will not be the same without you.
I will forever love you, sir.
From a humble student of yours.
