Chae Myung-shin
The commanding general of South Korea's forces in Vietnam, he later played a pivotal role in shaping the modern global sport of Taekwondo.
1926–2013 (age 87)·South Korean general·Birthday: November 27·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Chae Myung-shin's career traces the arc of modern South Korea, from its founding through war and onto the global stage. A combat veteran of the Korean War, he rose through the ranks to take command of the Republic of Korea's substantial military contingent in the Vietnam War, where his forces gained a reputation for fierce effectiveness. His postwar legacy, however, took a different form. Recognizing the cultural and diplomatic power of martial arts, Chae became a central figure in unifying the various Korean kwans (schools) under a single banner. As a co-founder and early leader of the Korean Taekwondo Association, he helped standardize forms and promote the art worldwide, transforming a traditional discipline into an Olympic sport and a potent symbol of Korean national identity.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Chae was born in 1926, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chae Was Born
The biggest hits of 1926
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Chae's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1926Born
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1931Started school
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1939Became a teenager
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Could drive
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1944Could vote
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Turned 21
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1956Turned 30
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 40
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 50
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 60
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 70
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 80
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2013Died at 87
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Served as the commander of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces in Vietnam from 1965 to 1969.
- Co-founded the Korean Taekwondo Association in 1959, serving as its second president and helping to unify the sport.
- Played a key role in establishing the Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters in Seoul, in 1972.
- Was a leading advocate for Taekwondo's inclusion as a demonstration sport in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Did You Know?
He was known by the nickname 'Tiger of Vietnam' for his leadership during the war.
He served as South Korea's Ambassador to Malaysia in the early 1970s.
He held a black belt in Taekwondo and was a strong proponent of its military application.
“We fought in Vietnam not for another country, but for our own security on the Korean peninsula.”
