Choi Hong Hi

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Template:Koreanname Choi Hong Hi (November 9, 1918 - June 15, 2002) was a South Korean army general considered the founder of Taekwondo. As a retired Major-General, he was his country's first ambassador to Malaysia. Finding life in South Korea under General Park Chung Hee's presidency intolerable, he fled the country and eventualy settled in Canada and North Korea for the rest of his life.

General Choi was born in what was to be North Korea during the Japanese Colonial Period and died in P'yŏngyang, the North Korean capital. During his adult life, however, Choi lived in Japan, South Korea, and Canada gaining the rank of "Major-General" during his career in the South Korean army.

As a boy he was educated in Korea under the Japanese occupation of the Korean peninsula. At that time, many of the traditions of the Korean people were suppressed by the Japanese, including the country's ancient martial arts, which were and still are renowned for the dynamic kicking techniques that are taught in them. Choi Hong Hi was trained in the Korean martial art of Taekyon in secret. When he became older he went to Japan to study at university, there he also trained in Shotokan Karate and achieved the rank of black belt within two years of training. He combined aspects of karate with aspects of the ancient Korean martial arts to create Taekwondo.

General Choi is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son who all live in Canada.

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