Grand Master Solomon Hak Duk Yun

Hello, My name is Richard Na, President of Washington State Taekwondo Association. I am writing this with a heavy heart. A pioneer in teaching Taekwondo and Martial Arts in the Pacific Northwest, Grand Master Hak-deok Solomon Yun collapsed from the flu at home last January and, while receiving treatment, never recovered and passed away at Edmund Swedish Hospital at 10 pm on February 16. He died at the age of 84.

Grand Master Hak-deok Yun (American name Solomon Yoon), came to the United States in 1968 and began teaching taekwondo in Washington State. He formed the Washington State Taekwondo Association in 1973 and was president until the 1990s. Grand Master Yun was foundational in teaching taekwondo and devoted many years to developing athletes to send to the Olympics and other international taekwondo events. Many of his early (1976) students from his dojang on 45th Street near the University of Washington are still training today.

Grand Master Yun in 1986 founded the American Washinton State Sports Association to revitalize the activities of sportspeople in the Korean community. He was also the founder and president of the World Martial Arts Health Association.

Grand Master Yun was a former member of the Korean Navy and a taekwondo instructor for the US 2nd Division in Korea. GM Yun moved to Seattle in 1976 and opened his first studio on the second floor of University Way and 45th Street near the University of Washington (UW). His dojang became a hub for the Korean-American community for meetings and events. Grand Master Yun was very connected to the community and even opened his school to UW Korean Students to meet and for the Seattle Korean Church to worship on the weekends.

The memorial service for Grand Master Yun will be organized by his Senior Master instructors. The date and time will be announced as soon as the venue and funds are coordinated. Unfortunately, GM Yun lived a minimal, martial artist life and did not amass a fortune to cover all of the expenses involved in funeral and memorial expenses. His life was humbly dedicated to teaching taekwondo and developing martial arts leaders. He will be greatly missed.

To all of the marital artists who have trained with Grand Master Solomon Yun or if you are training with a Master who trained with him, we owe a debt of gratitude to the pioneers who brought taekwondo to the United States. Please help us honor him with a meaningful and heartfelt celebration of his life in Taekwondo and the community at large.

Thank you

Grand Master Richard Na

Washington State Taekwondo Association President