Today we’d like to introduce you to Jinsung Pae.
Hi Jinsung, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I studied Taekwondo and education in Korea, and after immigrating to the U.S., I began teaching children. Out of a deep desire to share our educational message—one that emphasizes why children are our future and how their character can bring positive impact regardless of financial circumstances—I started offering free martial arts classes in elementary schools within the Spring Branch ISD area.
What began with just 12 students quickly grew into a program serving around 6,000 children in a year. As I worked closely with families, I realized that while parents continued working after school hours, their children needed a safe, state-licensed after-school program. However, many families struggled to enroll their kids due to financial hardship.
This inspired us to spread awareness about state funding and help families access it. During the waiting period, we continued to provide free services and benefits to ensure that children still received high-quality education not bound by money.
Through martial arts, we teach children discipline, values, and confidence, while also helping them focus on their academics by supporting homework. We aim to nurture unique talents through diverse classes, including art, science, math, as well as language programs (Korean, English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and sign language) and music lessons.
Since launching the school-age program in 2022, we’ve grown to welcome international students from Asia and Europe through our summer exchange program. As of 2025, we are preparing to expand into Georgia, Illinois, and Ohio, continuing our mission of making impactful education accessible to every child.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We have faced many challenges along the way. What began as a program rooted in the simple desire to help others was often met with jealousy, and at times, we were subjected to threats and ridicule from those who were only focused on financial gain. Because our center welcomes children from such a wide diversity of backgrounds, we also experienced misunderstandings from the community. And as the number of students grew, there were those who tried to exploit us for monetary reasons.
Yet through it all, we held firmly to our belief in the power of education. Our commitment to doing what is right made our team stronger, and it gave us the resilience to overcome any hardship. In truth, the greatest struggle was always our own limitations. But this also became our strength—because we motivated one another, covered for each other’s weaknesses, and grew into a family bound together by trust and purpose.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I began my journey as an athlete, majoring in Taekwondo, a martial art that shaped much of my discipline and character. After moving to the United States, I realized that while elite sports are important, I wanted to share a greater positive message with the next generation. This led me to study education and child psychology, and I eventually began offering free Taekwondo lessons in public schools while also running my own martial arts studio.
From there, my vision expanded into operating a daycare and ultimately building a diverse business network. Today, I oversee around 14 companies organized into four major categories: education, distribution & services, animal-related ventures, and investments.
What I am most proud of is not the size of our businesses but the strength of our team. While my background is in Taekwondo and education, it is the trust, dedication, and unique strengths of my family and team members that have made it possible to grow into what we are today. Believing in one another and working together has allowed us to build a wide range of businesses across these different fields, always with the goal of creating value and making a positive impact.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I believe that business risks, personal risks, social risks, and even philosophical risks are simply the challenges we face in everyday life. Risk exists in every action, every decision, and every emotion. What matters most is not avoiding risk, but how we choose to view it and whether we are willing to break free from fixed perspectives.
Before I opened my Taekwondo school, I was diagnosed with cancer. Confronting that health crisis taught me the value of fighting to live with hope, and although it was one of the hardest times in my life, it also made me stronger. More importantly, it showed me that I could not do everything alone—that I needed a team. That realization became the foundation for building trust, achieving more success, and surrounding myself with people who believed in me.
Whenever I start a new business, meet new people, or launch a new project, I admit that fear is always there. But that fear pushes me to prepare more thoroughly, challenge preconceived notions, and discipline myself to keep learning. Those efforts reduce mistakes, and even when failures or errors happen, there is always a way forward.
To me, it is not about striving to be the very best. It is about giving my absolute best in every moment, holding onto the belief that effort and sincerity matter most. And just as I trust my family and my team, they place their trust in me. That mutual belief is the lens through which we view risk—and it is what allows us to keep moving forward together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sites.google.com/view/springbranchafterschool/home?authuser=4
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eetkdspringbranch?locale=ko_KR%2F
