His never-ending days of constantly reminding himself of hope that he could do it got him here to this day.
Kim Ji-soo (35), an autistic young man, proudly obtained an international master’s license and a judge’s license at the Kukkiwon International Taekwondo Master & Examiner Course and Dan Promotion Test held in UC Berkeley in August last year.
Ji-Soo, diagnosed with autism at the age of three with an IQ of less than 70, said it was a miracle when he obtained the license that even ordinary people have trouble getting.
His mother, Kim In-sook, said, “When he was six, I would cry for an hour when I sent him to a local Taekwondo gym in Korea. However, I blindly just left him there since the therapist insisted that I don’t take him home before the class ends. I thank the director of Seorak Taekwondo Center for his consideration.”
Ji-Soo wanted to continue Taekwondo even after moving to the U.S. in 2003, but there wasn’t any Academy in the States that would take him in due to his autism.
However, Kim did not give up, and Ji-Soo finally met Yong Ho-jae, who was a master at a taekwondo studio.
Following Yong, who later opened a private taekwondo center in Redondo Beach, Ji-soo biked five to six hours to Taekwondo lesson from Koreatown.
Whole fifteen years of that. Ji-soo acquired the fourth-degree black belt and was also qualified as an instructor, teaching young children.
Yong recommended that Ji-Soo challenge himself to the master course at Berkeley, and he proudly qualified as an international master and judge in August last year.
When asked how he felt, Ji-soo said, “I was the happiest,” adding, “Taekwondo is too difficult.” But it’s good to challenge. I can do it, too,” he replied.
The reason why Ji-soo was able to come this far was Kim In-sook, a mother who always has her son’s back.
After leaving her husband in Korea and raising her son alone for 20 years, she chose to move to the U.S. despite her husband’s disapproval because she wanted to give her son a better world.
She did everything she could, collecting information and brochures on various disability support programs. She couldn’t speak English, so she took an interpreter and persuaded them.
Ji-soo also obtained a driver’s license in 2021 after 15 years of hard work. It took more than 10 years of studying for the written test since he has trouble reading.
Kim said, “When my son was practicing to drive, I was petrified.” “But I repeatedly drove around with my son every day so that he’ll get used to the surroundings when driving.”
She then said, “I taught my son that life is always like a coin. If there is something good, there is something bad, and if there is success, there is failure. I planted the courage in him to never give up.”
His younger brother Ji-woong surprised him with a car as soon as his brother got his driver’s license. Kim said, “Ji-woong has always been taking such good care of his brother, and I’m extremely thankful for him.”
When asked what she wanted for her son, she said, “I want him to stay healthy,” adding, “I’ve always done 120% for Ji-Soo. It’s possible because I’m a mother. I will always protect him at all costs.”
Reporter Jang Su-ah.
