KIHYEON KIM
Founder/Head Coach
Head Coach Kim brings over 20 years of professional athletic experience, including a decade as a member of the South Korean national team, providing a wealth of expertise to VAFC. Throughout this remarkable 20-year career, Coach Kim earned medals almost every year in national competitions and achieved numerous podium finishes in international modern pentathlon events.
Known for outstanding performance and sportsmanship, Coach Kim served as a role model for other athletes and was honored with prestigious awards, including a Presidential Citation, for significant contributions to the sport.
In addition to athletic achievements, Coach Kim pursued a doctoral degree, further enhancing expertise in exercise and sports science. This combination of academic excellence, athletic success, and extensive coaching experience equips Coach Kim to guide fencers in developing their skills step by step and achieving their goals.
At VAFC, Coach Kim's dedication and leadership create a strong foundation for success, inspiring fencers to excel both in fencing and personal growth.
Education
Doctor´s Degree of Physical Education/Pusan National University
Bachelor´s & Master´s Degree of Physical Education/Korea National Sports University
Medal
Gold medal on Asian game, Guangzhou 2010
Gold & Bronze medal on Korea Open International Competition 2009
Gold medal on Asian Champions 2008
Gold & Bronze medal on Asian Champions 2007
Gold medal on World Championship 2005
Triple Gold medals on Asian Champions 2005
Silver medal on Youth World Championship 2005
Double Gold medals on Asian Champions 2003
DONGHOON YOO
Coach
Meet Coach Dong Hun Yoo, our dedicated Epee coach at VAFC.
Coach Yoo brings a unique blend of professional athleticism and elite training experience to our fencing program. With a decade of experience as a modern pentathlon athlete, he has achieved remarkable success in various domestic competitions. His background is further enriched by an impressive career in specialized coaching and military service.
Coach Yoo spent 2 years training athletes in the South Korean Navy Special Warfare Unit (SSU), collaborated with the Special Rescue Team in the South Korean Coast Guard, and served 7 years in the Special Forces, including 2 years as a fitness instructor. This exceptional combination of competitive sports and high-level training expertise makes him a valuable asset to VAFC.
We are proud to have Coach Yoo on our team, and his passion for sharing his knowledge will undoubtedly help elevate the fencing skills and physical capabilities of our athletes.
HYUNSUK LEE
Coach
Coach Hyunsuk Lee is an accomplished epee and foil fencer, boasting gold, silver, and bronze medals from the Korea Championship and numerous victories in national competitions. Her exceptional fencing career began during her time at Daejeon Girls' High School, where she earned a gold medal in the National Athletic Competition and several other prestigious awards.
From 1990 to 1993, Coach Hyunsuk competed as a professional fencer for the Daejeon City Hall team in both epee and foil. During this time, she achieved significant success, including a gold medal at the National Athletic Competition and gold, silver, and bronze medals in the Korea Championship, solidifying her reputation as one of Korea’s top fencers.
As a team leader, Coach Hyunsuk led her team to victory at the Korean National Senior Championship, secured a second-place finish in the Presidential Fencing Championship, and received the Achievement Award as a professional fencer on the Daejeon City Hall team.
In addition to her achievements as an athlete, Coach Hyunsuk gained valuable coaching experience by training fencing teams at Hoedeok Middle School and Daejeon Girls' High School in Korea. From 2015 to 2022, she extended her coaching expertise to the U.S., where she mentored numerous students at a fencing club, helping many achieve gold, silver, and bronze medals in both national and regional competitions.
With her extensive background as both a competitive athlete and a skilled coach, Coach Hyunsuk brings unparalleled dedication and experience to VAFC, inspiring her students to reach their full potential and succeed on and off the fencing strip.
Chris Yoon
Assistant Coach
Perry Choi
Assistant Coach