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Honoring His Father's Legacy

Kim Byeong-yeon is a man of many titles: a master craftsman of traditional Korean bamboo bows, a community leader, an archer, our teacher, but no number of titles could ever quantify the true depth of his character and how much of an honor it is to know him.
His father’s friendship with the American soldier blossomed into a legacy that Kim Byeong-yeon honors with great reverence. As a foreigner living in Korea, it can be difficult to find a sense of lasting community, but thanks to our teacher, many of us have found a second home in the Land of the Morning Calm. 
~Rowan (12th Archery Class Champion)

Stories of Friendship & Community

I was fortunate to be a member of Teacher’s 12th archery class, and the community he has built is unlike any I’ve experienced. Through his kindness, humility, and passion for preserving and sharing Korean culture, Teacher has brought together people from diverse backgrounds and created an environment where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and connected. He doesn’t simply teach archery but also fosters lasting friendships and a true sense of community. I sincerely hope he is able to connect with the family of his father’s close friend and continue the friendship that began so many years ago.

I joined our teacher’s 12th archery class. I have many fond memories of spending mornings at the range and evenings at the archery workshop listening to my teacher’s stories. I smile when I think of decorating for Christmas, playing games, eating his homemade tteokbokki, and simply enjoying the warmth of true community. 
One hot summer's day in July, our class was resting under the shade of the pine trees when a hornet as big as my thumb flew at me. As calmly as possible, I got up and walked away; it followed me, and I was hastily approaching the opposite of calm. But faster than lightning, our teacher grabbed the hornet from the air. It stung him, but he barely winced. Then he went on as if nothing had happened. This is only a small example of his kindness. He quietly and humbly takes on burdens great and small to keep his community safe and happy. 
The task of preserving traditional Korean bamboo archery is a great undertaking, and if you only heard half of what he does, you might expect to meet an exhausted, worn-down man, but no matter what, he has always shown us such a depth of genuine warmth. Thanks to him, I am learning to be a person of greater integrity and to have a deeper sense of self-respect. He is like a father to me, and I sincerely hope he understands how grateful I am to know him.
He is undoubtedly one of the most admirable and honorable men I will ever meet, and it would mean the world to him, to me, and to my fellow students if we could work together to find the American veteran's family.

I am Kainat Fatima from Pakistan, and I was fortunate to be a member of Teacher's archery class while living in South Korea.

From the first day, Teacher made everyone feel welcome regardless of their nationality, language, or background. As an international student, that kindness meant a great deal to me. Through archery, I didn't just learn a sport, I became part of a warm and supportive community where people encouraged one another and built genuine friendships.

It is inspiring to see how Teacher has continued his father's legacy of international friendship. The values of kindness, respect, and bringing people together can be felt in every class. Teacher creates an environment where everyone feels included, and that is something I will always remember.

I sincerely hope Teacher can find this person's family. I think it would be a meaningful way to honor his father's legacy and continue the connections that have touched so many lives. I know many of us who have been part of Teacher's community would be very happy to see that happen.

I will always be grateful for the memories and friendships I made through your class.


میرا نام کائنات فاطمہ ہے اور میں پاکستان سے ہوں۔ جنوبی کوریا میں رہتے ہوئے مجھے استاد سے تیر اندازی سیکھنے اور ان کی کلاس کا حصہ بننے کا موقع ملا، جس کے لیے میں ہمیشہ شکر گزار رہوں گی۔


پہلے ہی دن سے استاد نے ہر طالب علم کو، چاہے وہ کسی بھی ملک، زبان یا ثقافت سے تعلق رکھتا ہو، عزت، محبت اور خلوص کے ساتھ خوش آمدید کہا۔ ایک بین الاقوامی طالب علم ہونے کے ناطے، ان کا یہ رویہ میرے لیے بہت معنی رکھتا تھا۔ تیر اندازی سیکھنے کے ساتھ ساتھ مجھے ایک ایسی کمیونٹی کا حصہ بننے کا موقع ملا جہاں لوگ ایک دوسرے کی حوصلہ افزائی کرتے ہیں، ایک دوسرے کا احترام کرتے ہیں۔


یہ دیکھ کر بہت خوشی ہوتی ہے کہ استاد اپنے والد کی بین الاقوامی دوستی اور انسانوں کو قریب لانے کی خوبصورت روایت کو آج بھی زندہ رکھے ہوئے ہیں۔ ان کی ہر کلاس میں محبت، احترام اور مختلف ملکوں کے لوگوں کو ایک دوسرے کے قریب لانے کا جذبہ صاف نظر آتا ہے۔


میں دل سے دعا کرتی ہوں کہ استاد اس شخص کے خاندان کو تلاش کرنے میں کامیاب ہوں۔ مجھے یقین ہے کہ یہ ان کے والد کی یاد اور ان کے مشن کو خراجِ تحسین پیش کرنے کا ایک خوبصورت طریقہ ہوگا۔ مجھے یہ بھی یقین ہے کہ دنیا بھر سے استاد کے شاگرد اور دوست اس خبر سے بے حد خوش ہوں گے۔


 آپ سے سیکھے ہوئے اسباق، آپ کی حوصلہ افزائی، اور آپ کے ساتھ گزرا ہوا وقت میری زندگی کی خوبصورت یادوں میں ہمیشہ شامل رہے گا۔— کائنات فاطمہ

پاکستان

For almost six years, I've known Teacher; he has always been like a father to me. I've worked with him on many occasions and seen how kind and gentle-hearted he is. In fact, he is one of the reasons I enjoyed staying in Korea. I will always be grateful to him.

Fún ọdún mẹ́fà, mo ti mọ Olùkọ́; ó ti jẹ́ baba fún mi nígbà gbogbo. Mo ti ṣiṣẹ́ pẹ̀lú rẹ̀ ní ọ̀pọ̀ ìgbà, mo sì ti rí i bí ó ṣe jẹ́ onínúure àti ọ̀lọ̀kanre. Ní tòótọ́, òun ni ọ̀kan lára àwọn ìdí tí mo fi gbádùn gbígbé ní Korea. Èmi yóò máa dúpẹ́ lọ́wọ́ rẹ̀ nígbà gbogbo.

I was in the 14th class of the Korean Archery Course taught by Teacher Kim Byeong Yeon. The community that was created by the teacher was warm and welcoming. I am grateful of being included in the group. Although I'm not that good at archery, Teacher has been very patient in guiding me. I appreaciate his willingness to give everyone a chance to find their potential, regardless of age, gender and nationality.

As a member of the archery team’s 17th class, I have always been impressed with our instructor’s desire to foster community while also promoting traditional Korean archery and culture. Kim Byeon-yeong is a warmhearted individual with a keen interest in connecting across cultures.

I was a member of the 12th session of our teacher's archery class. When I first arrived in Korea, I felt very homesick, but after joining the archery class, Korea became my second home; all the credit for this goes to our archery teacher. More than just a teacher, he is like a father. He always takes care of all the foreign students as if they were his own children. Even though we couldn't understand his language in the early days, we always felt the goodness of his heart. I hope he finds his father's friend's family and continues this friendship with them.

நமது ஆசிரியர் நடத்தும் வில்வித்தைப் பயிற்சியின் 12-வது குழுவைச் சேர்ந்தவர்கள் இல் நானும் ஒருவன். நான் முதன்முதலில் கொரியாவுக்கு வந்தபோது, என் சொந்த ஊரை விட்டு வந்ததற்கான ஏக்கம் என்னை மிகவும் வாட்டியது; ஆனால் வில்வித்தைப் பயிற்சியில் சேர்ந்த பிறகு, கொரியா எனக்கு இரண்டாவது வீடாக மாறிவிட்டது. இதற்கான முழுப் பெருமையும் எங்கள் வில்வித்தை ஆசிரியரையே சாரும். அவர் ஒரு ஆசிரியராக மட்டுமல்லாமல், ஒரு தந்தையைப் போலவும் திகழ்கிறார்.
வெளிநாட்டிலிருந்து வந்த மாணவர்கள் அனைவரையும் அவர் எப்போதும் தனது சொந்தக் குழந்தைகளைப் போலவே கவனித்துக்கொள்கிறார். ஆரம்ப நாட்களில் அவரது மொழி எங்களுக்குப் புரியாதிருந்தாலும், அவரது நல்ல உள்ளத்தை நாங்கள் எப்போதும் உணர்ந்தோம். எல்லைக்கு அப்பால் வசிக்கும் தனது தந்தையின் நண்பரின் குடும்பத்தை அவர் கண்டறிந்து, அவர்களுடனான நட்பைத் தொடர வேண்டும் என்று நான் விரும்புகிறேன்.

Before I came to Korea, I was told that while Koreans were courteous people I was unlikely to ever feel accepted. Joining the Daegu Foreign Archery Club as part of the 14th class proved that wrong. Not only did Teacher make me feel welcome from the first moment, he made me feel part of something. I have always maintained that home is where you feel connected and Teacher’s passion for not simply sharing Korean Archery and Culture with others but also for bringing people together has made me feel just that. Connected to something special.


Voordat ek Korea toe getrek het, het baie mense vir my gese dat die Koreaners op die oog af vriendelik is, maar dat ek nooit heeltemal sou voel asof ek aanvaar is nie. As deel van die Daegu Oorsese Boogskiet Klub se 14de groep het ek besef dat dit nie verder van die waarheid kon wees nie. Nie net het ‘Teacher’ my met ope arms verwelkom nie, maar hy het my van die begin af laat voel asof ek deel van iets is. Ek het nog altyd gevoel dat jy kan tuis voel op enige plek waar jy betrokke voel in jou gemeenskap en sy passie om nie net sy kultuur met ons te deel nie, maar ook om mense van alle soorte bymekaar te bring in die proses laat my presies so. Deel van ‘n werklike spesiale gemeenskap.

My name is Derryn, and I was born in South Africa. I was a proud member of Class 14, where I had the opportunity to learn the traditional style of Korean archery. I loved learning this new skill and discovering the rich history and traditions behind it.


One of the most meaningful parts of the experience was the time I spent with my classmates. We came from many different backgrounds, but through our shared experiences, we formed friendships that I believe will last a lifetime.


Our teacher, Kim Byeongyeon, brought us together through good humour, good food, and good company, creating a wonderful sense of community. When you are living far away from your loved ones and the comforts of home, connections like these mean even more.


I will always be grateful for my time in Class 14, not only for what I learned about Korean archery, but for the friendships, laughter, and sense of belonging that came with it.