Winnipeg taekwondo instructor King Yeung charged with child abuse

A 57-year-old taekwondo grandmaster from Winnipeg is charged with child abuse for allegedly sexually assaulting two students.

Police say that in 2009, King Yeung, who is the chief instructor at Kang's Academy, "pursued and developed" a personal relationship with one of the students, who was under the age of 16. Police did not say whether the victim was male or female.

Yeung, who was 50 at the time, began inappropriately touching the student and continued to do so on a regular basis, police said.

Between 2009 and 2012, Yeung's advances increased and were more sexual in nature, police said, adding the behaviour continued about two to three times per week.

In January 2010, Yeung drove the victim and other students to Alberta for a taekwondo tournament, where he allegedly sexually assaulted the victim some more, police said.

Over time, the victim managed to end the relationship and only recently told police about it.

On May 4, police arrested and charged Yeung, who was in custody when a second victim came forward.

2nd victim

The second victim told police they joined the academy in 1998 and over the next six years, was inappropriately touched and sexually assaulted by Yeung. Again, the victim was under 16 years old at the time, police said.

On May 9, while still in custody, Yeung was re-arrested and charged with additional offences.

Police said supports are available to any victims who may want to come forward.

"Time span doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if this was yesterday or several years ago. Any victim of sexual assault needs to understand there are supports out there for them and as a police service it doesn't matter how old these allegations are we are going to investigate them as if they happened yesterday," said Winnipeg police Insp. Kelly Dennison.

According to a biography on Kang Academy's website, Yeung is the provincial coach for national taekwondo team trials, a position he has held since 1995. He is also former member of the Canadian national team and a champion in the bantam weight and fly weight divisions.

The president of Taekwondo Manitoba says Yeung is not a member of Taekwondo Manitoba or Canada.

Jae Park says he was shocked to hear the 57-year-old was charged with child abuse and he hopes it doesn't reflect poorly on Winnipeg's taekwondo community.

"You can't control individuals...one person doesn't represent a martial art or any type of a group. You know definitely not that I wouldn't be alarmed if it happened in some other sport but I'm the president of Taekwondo Manitoba so obviously it is concerning," Park said.

Police are still investigating and asking anyone with further information to call them or Crime Stoppers. Anyone with further information regarding the investigation is asked to contact police at 204-986-6245 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).