Jun Chong

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Jun Chong

Role / Field:

South Korean martial artist, filmmaker, and actor known for Taekwondo mastery.

Born:

1944

Century / Era:

1944s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Jun Chong (born 1944) is a South Korean-born martial artist, filmmaker and actor. Chong was born in 1944 on the Korean Peninsula. At age 8, he began training in taekwondo. While he won numerous competitions both nationally and internationally, Chong decided to try his hand at other forms of martial arts including hapkido, judo, aikido and boxing. Chong is a 10th-degree grandmaster in taekwondo.

Career & Major Achievements

After moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s, he opened a school that he continues to operate alongside his son Yong. He has had celebrity students including Phillip Rhee, Simon Rhee, Lorenzo Lamas, Sam J. Jones, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Ian Griffith and Heather Graham. Chong is also the founder of the World United Martial Arts Organization (WUMAO), connecting schools from all over the world to support the advancement and growth of martial arts. Chong made his film debut in 1976 in a South Korean-made martial arts film shot on location in Los Angeles, Visitor of America, with Chong credited as 케리・郑 (Ke-li Chong) in the original Korean version and as Bruce K.L. Lea in the English-dubbed and altered American edit known as Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave. Chong's picture was shown as Kim Sun-Yung of Tang Soo Do, or Dohk Sa, in the 1984 American film The Karate Kid at the Cobra Kai dojo.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1985, Chong founded Action Brothers Productions. His first film as a producer and star was L.A. Street Fighters, also known as Ninja Turf. The film included students in the cast members like Bill Wallace and a pre-fame Thomas F. Wilson of the Back to the Future trilogy. His second film, Silent Assassins, had Chong team up with real-life student Sam J. Jones and Linda Blair. The film also had a brief fight scene between real-life brothers Phillip and Simon Rhee, who play a good guy and an assassin, respectively.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1944: Birth of Jun Chong — South Korean martial artist, filmmaker, and actor known for Taekwondo mastery.
2. 1976: 1976 Milestone — Chong made his film debut in 1976 in a South Korean-made martial arts film shot on location in Los Angeles, Visitor of America, with Chong credited as 케리・郑 (Ke-li Chong) in the original Korean version and as Bruce K.
3. 1984: 1984 Milestone — Chong's picture was shown as Kim Sun-Yung of Tang Soo Do, or Dohk Sa, in the 1984 American film The Karate Kid at the Cobra Kai dojo.
4. 1985: 1985 Milestone — In 1985, Chong founded Action Brothers Productions.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Jun Chong

True or False: “Did Jun Chong's film debut occur in a movie that was not shot on location in Los Angeles?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): His 1976 film debut, *Visitor of America*, was specifically noted as being shot on location in Los Angeles.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Al Smith — Historical peer (Died in 1944) (1944): Prominent Democratic politician, former Governor of New York, and 1928 presidential nominee.
• Alan Parker — Historical peer (Born in 1944) (1944): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
• A Day at the Races (album) — Historical peer (Born in 1976) (1976): Queen's fifth studio album, a companion piece to A Night at the Opera.
• Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani — Historical peer (Died in 1976) (1976): Bangladeshi statesman and founder of the Awami League, known for advocating for the poor.
• AB de Villiers — Historical peer (Born in 1984) (1984): Iconic South African cricketer, celebrated for his all-around batting genius.
• Adriene Mishler — Historical peer (Born in 1984) (1984): American yoga instructor, actress, and YouTube entrepreneur.
• Alex Honnold — Historical peer (Born in 1985) (1985): Pioneering free solo climber, famous for conquering El Capitan.
• 1944 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1944

Frequently Asked Questions about Jun Chong