Grand Master Ki-June Park

On December 6th, 2013, Grand Master Ki-June Park, PhD, passed away due to complications of multiple strokes. Master Park, also known as “June”, was born in Chulwon, Korea. He learned the English language from American missionaries and desired to become an ambassador promoting relations between Korea and the US.
In 1973, Master Park came to America to study. He received his Masters from Central Missouri State and his PhD in political science from Kansas University. In order to pay his way through college, Master Park taught Tae-Kwon-Do. He found great success and pleasure in guiding his students in the martial arts discipline. When he graduated, he wanted to become a professor in political science, but was guided by his mentors that he would have more of an impact teaching Tae-Kwon-Do.
Master Park was an amazing instructor of the Korean martial arts! The discipline was his entire being as he built a legacy at Lawrence Tae-Kwon-Do School. He had very high expectations of his students to live by the ethical rules of: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit. Daily he would check on his students if they performed good deeds, were respectable by saying “yes, sir” and “no, sir” and ate their five fruits and vegetables for the day.
Even though his main focus was Lawrence Tae-Kwon-Do School, Master Park was continuously involved politically. He was involved in Rotary, Kansas International, and International Trade Committee. Most recently he assisted in coordinating the Korean American Sports Festival, which took place in Kansas City this past summer.
Master Park was also an avid reader. Annually, he would organize a Charity Fundraiser at the Tae-Kwon-Do School and give the funds raised to area schools for books.
Master Park will be missed. He is survived by his children, Elizabeth and Andrew. A celebration of life will be scheduled in early February, 2014. Remembrances and condolences can be sent to Lawrence Tae-Kwon-Do School, 1846 Vermont Street, Lawrence, KS, 66044.