The Cabildo de Tenerife has unanimously approved the start of proceedings to award Hyun Seung Shin Ra, better known as Master Shin, the title of Adopted Son of Tenerife in recognition of his decades-long contribution to sport, cultural exchange and community life on the island.
Although the honour has not yet been formally granted, the unanimous decision begins the official process under the Cabildo’s honorary distinctions regulations.
A Lifetime Dedicated to Tenerife
Born on 6 March 1952 in Seosan, South Korea, Master Shin began training in taekwondo and hapkido at the age of 10, while also studying Eastern philosophy and acupuncture.
He arrived in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1977, where he opened a martial arts school on Calle San Francisco, becoming one of the first instructors to introduce both taekwondo and hapkido to the Canary Islands.
From 1982, he taught at the Quico Cabrera Sports Pavilion, where he established the Club Pabellón, helping to train generations of athletes and instructors, many of whom later continued their studies in South Korea.
Building Links Between Tenerife and South Korea
Beyond martial arts, Master Shin has played a key role in strengthening cultural and sporting ties between Tenerife and South Korea.
Since 1990, he has coordinated exchanges between Canarian wrestling (lucha canaria) and ssireum, Korea’s traditional wrestling discipline, acting as organiser, interpreter and liaison between both countries.
These exchanges enabled Canarian wrestlers to compete internationally, with several achieving world championship success in ssireum.
Honours and Recognition
Master Shin holds the prestigious 9th Dan in both taekwondo and hapkido and is a founding member of both the Spanish and Canarian Taekwondo Federations.
He currently serves as president of the Canarian Association of Korean Hand Acupuncture and is vice-president of the international World Doowon Hapkido organisation.
As president of Tenerife’s Korean community, he also promoted the creation of the Monument to Korean Sailors, unveiled in 1999 near the Fishing Port in Santa Cruz. In 2014, the surrounding area was officially named Plaza del Coreano, believed to be Spain’s first public space dedicated to Korea.
Throughout his career, Master Shin has received numerous honours, including the Silver Medal for Sporting Merit from the Royal Spanish Taekwondo Federation, the Gold Medal for Sporting Merit from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and an award from the Government of South Korea in 1997 for strengthening cultural relations.
The Cabildo believes his contribution extends far beyond sport, recognising his role in promoting integration, cultural understanding and the long-standing relationship between Tenerife and South Korea.