We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jaeyoung Lee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jaeyoung, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

I trained as a professional athlete in Korea, competing at national and international levels. I earned gold medals, poured countless hours into mastering the art, and lived and breathed the discipline. But behind the glory, I saw another side—one filled with politics, favoritism, and disillusionment. I began to lose faith in a system that didn’t always reward talent or hard work. Eventually, I walked away.

I left Taekwondo completely and entered a different field, thinking I had closed that chapter of my life for good. I truly believed that part of me was over.

But years later, through a professor’s referral, I received an unexpected opportunity: to teach Taekwondo in the United States. At first, I hesitated. Doubts crept in—Could I go back? Did I even want to? But something inside me said, “This is what you’ve done your whole life—give it one more try.” That decision changed everything.

I came to the U.S. five years ago as a Taekwondo instructor. Teaching reawakened something in me—not a drive to compete, but a passion for passing on the values Taekwondo had instilled in me: perseverance, respect, humility, and courage. I wasn’t chasing medals anymore—I was helping shape lives.

Still, life in the U.S. wasn’t easy. I worked incredibly hard as a head instructor, but the pay was low, especially while I was going through the permanent residency process. Financially and emotionally, it was one of the hardest seasons of my life. The dream of opening my own school felt distant—maybe even impossible.

Then, about a year ago, I met someone who believed in me deeply—my now wife, Bo Rim. She’s not a martial artist—she’s an engineer—but she understood the heart behind what I wanted to build. Together, we began to imagine a life of purpose: a Taekwondo school that wasn’t just about kicks and punches, but about legacy, character, and community. One day, we looked at each other and said, “Let’s do it. Let’s build this together.”

From that moment, the idea became real.

At the end of last year, we started searching for a place to open our Taekwondo school. We formed our company—Miracle 315 LLC—at the beginning of this year and signed a lease in a small but charming town called Pompton Lakes, NJ, on March 1, 2025. We spent months renovating the space, handling permits, managing inspections, and learning everything that goes into opening a small business. It wasn’t perfect, but we saw its potential.

During the day, we painted walls, ordered mats, and connected with local families. At night, we worked on curriculum, pricing, branding, and marketing—often staying up late designing flyers and responding to messages on social media.

On June 1, 2025, One Taekwondo Martial Arts School officially opened its doors.

We don’t have many students yet, but we’re growing every week. We’ve hosted our first birthday party, held trial classes, and welcomed our first few students—each one reminding me why I came back.

Because Taekwondo isn’t about medals or politics. It’s about growth, respect, and character. It’s about helping kids develop self-control, discipline, and confidence—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.

Through Taekwondo, I get to share the best of Korean culture: respect for elders, humility, focus, responsibility, and caring for others. These aren’t just lessons for the mat—they’re lessons for life.

I never expected my story to lead here. But I’m so grateful that it did.

Jaeyoung, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Master Lee, founder and head instructor of One Taekwondo in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey.

I was born and raised in South Korea, where I trained as a professional Taekwondo athlete and competed at national and international levels, earning gold medals and dedicating my youth to mastering the art. After stepping away from competition, I thought I had left martial arts behind for good. But years later, I found a new calling—not as a competitor, but as a teacher. I came to the U.S. to share Taekwondo with a new generation, and eventually, I found myself building something even greater: my own school.

At One Taekwondo, we provide high-quality martial arts instruction for children, teens, and families. Our programs are designed to promote discipline, confidence, and resilience—life skills that extend far beyond the mat. We provide:
– Structured Taekwondo classes for all ages and skill levels
– Character-building curriculum rooted in traditional Korean values
– Belt testing, tournament opportunities, and confidence-based growth
– Birthday parties and private events
– Trial classes for new students.

What sets us apart isn’t just technique—it’s our mission. We focus not only on kicks and forms, but on building confidence, focus, respect, and resilience. These are life skills that help our students thrive at school, at home, and in everyday life.

We are not a franchise. One Taekwondo is part of a respected network of independently owned studios that share the same brand, values, and vision. These include:
– Master J Taekwondo (Nanuet & Norwood)
– US Tiger K Taekwondo (Paramus)
– Ramsey Taekwondo Martial Arts (Ramsey)

Each of these schools is led by highly experienced martial artists with over 25 years of Taekwondo expertise and more than a decade of successful school management. Together, we serve over 700 students across the region. We’re currently in the process of officially unifying all locations under the One Taekwondo name to create even greater consistency and visibility across our brand.

Before launching my own school, I had the privilege of managing a school with over 300 active students. That hands-on experience—combined with support from mentors and peers—is what gave me the confidence to open this new location in Pompton Lakes.

What I’m most proud of isn’t a medal or trophy—it’s watching a shy child stand taller, smile brighter, and begin to believe in themselves after just a few weeks of training. That’s what drives me. That’s what One Taekwondo is all about.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I met my business partner—and now wife—Bo Rim about a year ago through a Korean community group for people living in the NY/NJ area. We were introduced by a mutual friend at a local social gathering.

I still remember our first meeting—it was at Jumong Pocha in Fort Lee. It was April, but she showed up wearing a fuzzy winter hat because she said it was cold. What stood out to me most was how comfortably and joyfully she ate at that first meeting—it left an impression. After dinner, we went to a karaoke room, and to my surprise, she sang incredibly well. I’ve always been drawn to people who sing well, so in that moment, something clicked.

At first, we were dating casually—she was even considering a move to the West Coast for work. But as we spent more time together, we realized we shared core values: faith, discipline, ambition, and a desire to build something meaningful. We started dreaming about the future—together.

One night, in one of those long and honest conversations, I told her, “If I could do anything, I’d open my own Taekwondo school.” She looked at me and simply said, “Why not?” That moment planted the seed. From there, we started sketching out a business plan and vision together. She supported me in every way—not just emotionally, but also practically and financially.

Later, we visited Korea together in December 2024 to meet each other’s parents and even talked about marriage. Then in April 2025, we took a trip to Las Vegas to celebrate her birthday—thinking it might be our last vacation before launching the business. On a whim, in the middle of that trip, we decided to get married. It took less than an hour at a Vegas chapel to make it official.

We hadn’t planned to get married in Vegas—but it felt right. We had already committed to building a life and business together, and everything aligned so naturally. We plan to have our full wedding ceremony with our families in Korea this December. But that spontaneous moment in Vegas, just like our first meeting, was heartfelt and perfectly us.

Now, we’re not only married—we’re partners in both life and business. Her background in engineering and her fresh perspective outside the martial arts world bring balance, logic, and creativity to everything we do at One Taekwondo. I truly couldn’t have done this without her. From the very beginning, she’s been by my side—helping with everything from writing business materials in English to designing our marketing. Together, we’re building something that reflects both our strengths.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

There have been several moments in my life when resilience wasn’t a choice—it was a necessity.

In Korea, I trained as a professional Taekwondo athlete. I competed nationally, won gold medals, and dedicated my youth to mastering the art. But behind the success came deep burnout. The pressure, the politics, the relentless push to win—I lost sight of why I had started in the first place. By my senior year of college, I hit a breaking point. I stopped competing, quit training, and walked away from Taekwondo completely.

I moved into a completely different field, convinced that chapter of my life was over.

Years later, through a connection from a former professor, I was unexpectedly offered the chance to teach Taekwondo in the United States. At first, I hesitated. I wasn’t sure I could return to something I had once walked away from. But then I thought, “Taekwondo is the one thing I’ve done my whole life—maybe it’s worth one more try.”

So I came to America. And honestly, when I saw how blue and open the sky was, I decided to stay.

Starting over in a new country—with a new language, culture, and no savings or support system—wasn’t easy. But I worked hard, stayed humble, and kept showing up. I found joy again—not in medals or recognition, but in helping others grow.

Teaching in the U.S. reminded me of what I had once loved about Taekwondo: its ability to shape character, build confidence, and teach discipline. That experience reignited a dream I didn’t even know I still had—to open my own school.

Eventually, I got the opportunity to launch One Taekwondo. But that, too, came with its own challenges. During our buildout, there was a week when everything seemed to fall apart. Our inspection failed. Equipment was delayed. Bills were piling up, and we had no income. The financial stress, time pressure, and uncertainty hit all at once—and I genuinely wondered, “Can we really do this?”

But I remembered what I always tell my students:
“Perseverance is the spirit of Taekwondo.”

So we pushed forward. We stayed up late solving problems, reached out to mentors, adjusted our plans, and just kept showing up—even when it was hard.

From navigating business licenses and translating documents to managing construction and marketing with only a handful of students—we figured it out step by step. And on June 1, 2025, we finally opened our doors.

Now, every time a new student walks in—especially one who’s shy or unsure—I think back to those early struggles. Because resilience isn’t about never falling. It’s about rising again—with intention, with courage, and with heart.

That’s what we live by at One Taekwondo.
And that’s what brought us here.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://onetaekwondo315.square.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onetaekwondo315
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/ONE-Taekwondo-Martial-Arts/61576151517682/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/one-taekwondo-martial-arts-pompton-lakes
• Other: https://g.co/kgs/3mkZrEm