Grand Master Park Jung Tae devoted his life to the global promotion and technical perfection of Taekwon-Do. Korean-born and later Canadian, he began his martial arts training from an early age, studying boxing, judo, and karate before the art of Taekwon-Do had yet been formally named. His journey would take him to every continent on earth, demonstrating and teaching with a rigor and passion unmatched in the history of the federation.

During the Vietnam War, Grand Master Park served the Republic of Korea Army for two years as the army’s leading martial arts instructor, training South Korean, Vietnamese, and American soldiers. He rose to be ranked as the leading technical trainer in Taekwon-Do, a distinction that would define the remainder of his remarkable career. Upon completing his service, he dedicated himself entirely to the art — traveling, demonstrating, and establishing Taekwon-Do in countries where the discipline had never before been practiced.

Grand Master Park is recognized as one of the twelve original Taekwon-Do masters who participated in the establishment of the first international federation. A co-creator of original Taekwon-Do patterns, his technical contributions to the art are foundational and enduring.

In 1990, Grand Master Park founded the Global Taekwon-Do Federation — an organization built upon the principles of technical integrity, international brotherhood, and the authentic transmission of the art as he had practiced and taught it throughout his life. Under his leadership, the GTF grew into a respected international body with member nations across five continents.

Grand Master Park Jung Tae passed away on 11 April 2002. His legacy of technical perfection, indomitable spirit, and unwavering dedication to the art continues to guide the GTF and its practitioners around the world.