Chong Chul Rhee

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Rhee Chong-chul ( 이종철; 李鐘鐵; born c. 1935) is a South Korean master of taekwondo who arrived to Australia in the 1960s.An interview with World Master Chong-chul Rhee, 8th Dan, the Father of Australian Taekwon-Do
''Australasian Fighting Arts'' (March 1985). Retrieved on 13 June 2007. He is the founder of Rhee Taekwon-Do, which is widely publicised as Australia's first and biggest taekwondo school.See the ''Martial Arts'' section of the ''Yellow Pages'' telephone directory from any Australian state capital city since at least the 1980s.See the back cover of ''Australasian Fighting Arts'' since at least 1995, including volumes 17(6) from 1995, 18(4) from 1996, and 19(1) from 1997.Rhee Taekwon-Do: Brisbane and Sunshine Coast Regions
(c. 2009). Retrieved on 1 August 2009. Rhee holds the title 'World Master' and the rank of 8th ''dan'' in taekwondo.Rhee Tae Kwon Do: Mildura/Sunraysia Region
(c. 2009). Retrieved on 1 August 2009. He is one of the twelve original masters of taekwondo of the Korea Taekwon-Do Association (KTA).Choi, H. H. (1972): ''Taekwon-Do: The Korean art of self-defence''. Mississauga: International Taekwon-Do Federation.A tribute to the original masters
(c. 2007). Retrieved on 13 June 2007; link has expired, as at 1 July 2011

retrieved on 7 November 2011.

Early life

Rhee was born in Korea during the period of Japanese occupation from 1910–1945. As a youth, he trained in martial arts, basketball, boxing, gymnastics, and weights. Later, he was an instructor in the Korean Marines for three years, teaching unarmed combat to the Marine Commandoes, Marine Brigade Headquarters, and the Marine 2nd Infantry Division. Under the direction of the KTA, Rhee helped introduce the art of taekwondo to Southeast Asia—most notably in Malaysia and Singapore, but also in Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Brunei.Rhee Tae Kwon Do: Perth Region – Father of Australian Tae Kwon Do
(c. 2007). Retrieved on 13 June 2007.

Australia

Rhee was the first taekwondo master sent to Australia by the Republic of Korea, and was ranked around 5th ''dan'' at the time. He founded Rhee Taekwon-Do in Adelaide, South Australia, around 1965.Rhee Taekwondo: South Australia – History of Rhee Taekwondo
(c. 2007). Retrieved on 3 November 2007. Two of his brothers later joined him, and assist in managing parts of the school. Rhee was promoted to 8th ''dan'' in the early 1980s. He personally conducts Rhee Taekwon-Do grading examinations across most of Australia, visiting every region 4 times each year.

Rhee has worked towards the reunification of Korea,Anonymous (2007)
남북정상회담에 대한 평통회장의 견해
. ''Hoju Top News'' (24 August 2007). Retrieved on 5 December 2009. serving as a member during the third through ninth terms—and as Chairman for the eighth term—of the Oceania Division of the Advisory Council on Democratic and Peaceful Unification.
(2003). Retrieved on 24 April 2003; link has expired, as at 15 July 2007. He has also served as Chairman of the Seoul Olympics Supporting Committee and founding President of the Korean Community Hall Construction Supporting Committee. The Republic of Korea awarded Rhee the Dongbaeg Medal (동백장) in 2003 for promoting taekwondo and Korean culture over the past 33 years.Chong, S. (2003)
'호주 태권도 대부' 이종철씨, 국민훈장 동백장 서훈
. ''The Sydney Korean Herald'' (28 January 2003). Retrieved on 15 July 2007; link has expired, as at 30 January 2008
Archived copy
retrieved on 24 July 2009.

Rhee is listed as a pioneer in Asia (1950s and 1960s) and Australia (1970s) in Choi Chang-keun

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