May 31, 2022 (NYC)-Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Taekwondo Demo at One Police Plaza.  On May 31, 2022 to mark the close of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Grandmaster YH Park joined the NYPD for a Taekwondo Demo at One Police Plaza. Korean American Detective James “Miyung-sun” Thorsten, a 3rd Dan, and NYPD Police Detective joined Grandmaster Park for a display of board breaking and traditional Korean cultural respect.

Korean Americans have always been great supporters of law enforcement and this Demonstration was a great way to show the partnership between the NYPD and Korean American New Yorkers.

Grandmaster Yeon Hwan Park was one of the 1988 US Olympic Taekwondo Coaches for the Seoul Olympics.  The NYPD has just established a Taekwondo Club for members of the police force.  This event was the launching pad for this organization and, hopefully, next year the entire NYPD Police Taekwondo Club will participate in this event.

The event took place before the top brass of the NYPD, including the new Police Commissioner, Kechant L. Sewell.

Taekwondo was not the only event that evening; however, it was the most dynamic.   The event was followed by  an evening of food from various regions of the Pacific Island region.

-by Marc Zirogiannis