A first-generation student of General Choi, Hong Hi, the Father of Taekwon-Do, Grand Master Kong, Young Il's Taekwon-Do roots are in the Oh Do Kwan in Won Joo, Korea. Today, fifty-four years later, Grand Master Kong, Young Il teaches the martial art of Taekwon-Do with the same approaches and rigor he learned from the Father of Taekwon-Do and perfected through continuous practice of the art. Grand Master Kong, Young Il is steadfastly focused on promoting Taekwon-Do and General Choi's legacy. GM Kong Young Il lives in Las Vegas with his wife. His sons Andy and Douglas live in Los Angeles. Here are some highlights from the illustrious career of this Taekwon-Do pioneer: 1952 - At age nine, with a child's curiosity, became a student of Shotakan karate; 1962 - 1967 - Attended the Kyung Hee University Physical Education College became All Star Captain of the university's Taekwon-Do team; 1963 - 1967 - Served in the Republic of Korea Army, attaining the rank of Sergeant; Served as a Master Instructor of the Republic of Korea Army with duties to enhance the instruction of other Taekwon-Do instructors; With General Choi, Grand Master Nam, Tae Hi, and others, co- developed several Taekwon-Do patterns; Became the first Master Instructor to introduce the 8th U.S. Army in Korea to Taekwon-Do; Named Captain of the competitive Taekwon-Do All Star Team of the Republic of Korea Army; Became member of the original International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF); 1973 - 1980 - As member of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) Demonstration Team, and in the company of General Choi, visited more than 127 countries as part of ambassadorship for Taekwon-Do; Immigrated to the United States upon invitation from an American Soldier who was his student of Taekwon-Do; Founded and operated numerous dojangs across the United States and Puerto Rico; Served as Master Instructor for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Pennsylvania; 1994 - Bame the 39th Inductee to the All-American Black Belt Hall of Fame. 1997 - Promoted to 9th Degree Black Belt by General Choi, Hong Hi in Poland. 2003 - Co-founded the International Ch'Ang-Hon Taekwon-Do Federation. 2006 - Assumed the role of President of the World Taekwon-Do Alliance.
Grand Master Kong, Young Il was the Taekwon-do All Star Team Captain at Kyung Hee University, South Korea in 1963. He was in the Republic of Korea Army from 1964 to 1968 where he was again the Taekwon-do All Star Team Captain. During those years, he was also the first Master Instructor to Introduce Taekwon-do to the 8th US Army in Korea. During 1963 to 1980, Grand Master Kong traveled around the world with General Choi Hong Hi, as a selected member of an International Tae Kwon Do demonstration team. He visited 127 countries performing demonstrations to introduce Taekwon-do Martial Art to the world. After each demonstration there was an open invitation/challenge to the public to fight any demonstration team member. Grand Master Kong fought martial artists of all kinds in 127 countries and never lost a fight. Throughout 1980 to 2004, Grand Master Kong opened Taekwon-do Dojangs from the East Coast to the West Coast of America as well as Puerto Rico and taught Taekwon-do to thousands of practitioners. Quite a few of his students became champions around the world. One noteworthy highlight was his being Master Instructor for the USA government agency, the FBI. Amongst his awards, Grand Master Kong has been awarded the All American Open Award, inducted into the Hall Of Fame and been voted Martial Artist of the Year.

Kong Young Il je v současné době prezidentem World Taekwon-Do Alliance.