Bail denied for King Yeung, taekwondo instructor charged with sexual assault

June 2, 2016

A Winnipeg taekwondo instructor accused of child abuse was denied bail in court Thursday.

King Yeung, 57, is a taekwondo grandmaster and was charged with child abuse for allegedly sexually assaulting students.

Initially, there were three victims, but in court on Thursday, it was revealed there is a fourth victim and charges stem from incidents dating back to 1985.

Judge John Guy said it was a "difficult case" and because of the nature and gravity of the charges, he denied bail. Guy also said public confidence would be shaken.

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. 

Police said in 2009, 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.