WTF President Chungwon Choue has named Mr. Jin Suk Yang of the United States as the new secretary general of the world’s taekwondo governing body.

President Choue cited as major reasons for his nomination Mr. Yang’s extensive experience and knowledge in fields of management and taekwondo.

“Born in 1942, Mr. Yang, an American citizen, comes in with outstanding credentials; he was a two-time major of Corte Madera City within Marin County, California, and has held high-ranking positions in the police and law enforcement,” Dr. Choue said in his letter to WTF leaders on Feb. 7, 2007.

Dr. Choue continued to say, “I firmly believe that his numerous years of experience in the fields of management, coupled with his vast knowledge of taekwondo, will serve the WTF Secretariat well.”

“Over the last 42 years, I have spent my life in the United States, but now I decided to go to Korea to serve my mother land for the rest of my life,” Mr. Yang said. “I will do my utmost to further globalize Korea and the WTF as a truly international sports federation.”

A graduate of the College of Physical Education, Kyung Hee University in Seoul, Korea, Mr. Yang is a 7th Kukkiwon Dan holder. He opened taekwondo gyms in Denver, Colorado and San Pablo, California. He also set up a taekwondo club at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1968.

Since 1999, he has served as a member of the City Council of Corte Madera, California. The term of City Council members is four years. He was elected mayor of the city of Corte Madera in 2002 and 2006.
Between 1976 and 1987, he worked as director of the Drug and Alcohol Enforcement of the U.S. Army in Busan, Korea.