Koang Woong Kim

Service Details

Funeral services for Koang W. Kim will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church.  Interment will follow in St. James Cemetery.  A visitation will take place at the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on FRIDAY at the church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the Mass.  Condolences and cards may be sent to the US Taekwondo Academy, 5713 Sheridan Road, Kenosha, WI, 53140.

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Grandmaster Koang Woong Kim, 85, peacefully passed away at home on May 7, 2025, surrounded by loved ones in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Born on July 10, 1940, in South Korea to Jae Guk Kim and Soo Soo Lee, Grandmaster Kim lived a remarkable life filled with love, service, dedication, and groundbreaking achievements in the martial art of Taekwondo.

As a young man, Koang Woong Kim served in the Korean Army during the Vietnam War as part of the Korean Special Forces, undertaking missions that involved hand-to-hand combat. He also served as a military photographer and correspondent. His combat expertise was highly sought after by both the Korean Special Forces and the U.S. Army Green Berets for training purposes.

After the war, he moved to Germany, where he studied electrical engineering and worked in the mines. It was there that he met the love of his life, Kyung Soon Kim. They were married in Germany on May 20, 1970.

While in Germany, Grandmaster Kim opened a Taekwondo school and played a pivotal role in organizing and participating in the historic Taekwondo demonstration at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, helping introduce the sport to a global audience.

In 1972, he fulfilled his dream of moving to the United States, where he established a Taekwondo school in the Chicago area. In 1978, the Kim family relocated to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where they founded the United States Taekwondo Academy—known locally as Kim’s Temple. The academy is now operated by his son, Jon Kim, and has continued to carry on his legacy for more than 47 years.

A true pioneer and visionary, Grandmaster Kim began practicing Taekwondo before it was officially recognized as a sport. He was instrumental in bringing Taekwondo to the international stage and shaping its development in the United States and beyond. On March 9, 1990, he was awarded his 9th-degree black belt by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), an honor held by only twelve individuals worldwide at the time.

Throughout his life, Grandmaster Kim made lasting contributions to the sport. He served as Referee Chairman of the United States Taekwondo Union (USTU), coached athletes at both national and international levels, and held the prestigious WTF International Referee Special Grade certification. In 1987, he was named USTU Coach of the Year and was selected as the USTU delegate to the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. He also served three terms as Chairman of the WTF Technical Committee. Locally, he held leadership positions as President of the Wisconsin and Illinois State Taekwondo Associations and the USA Taekwondo Federation. Beyond his sporting achievements, he was a passionate advocate for peace, leading efforts toward the peaceful unification of North and South Korea.

Above all, Koang Woong Kim was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his beloved wife, Kyung Soon Kim; his children, Jon (Kindra) and Mijun (Paul); and his grandchildren, Ethan, Evan, Emma, JP, and Isabella.

May we always remember Koang Woong Kim for a life rich in family, friendship, and extraordinary accomplishment. He leaves behind a powerful legacy that continues to inspire generations in the martial arts community and beyond.