Byung (B.K.) Min

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Byung Kwon Min, MS, PhD

              1932 – 2021

Byung (BK) Min, 88, a resident of Hilliard, Ohio passed away on February 6, 2021 at The Ohio State University Ross Heart Hospital with his wife and son by his side.  BK was born in Tokyo, Japan to his Korean parents, Jang Sik Min and Min Su Kim.  

He spent his early years in both Tokyo and Seoul, South Korea. During his senior year of high school, he met the love of his life, Insae Lee. They married in 1955, while they were still in college.   BK attended the prestigious Yonsei University in Seoul.  After receiving his undergraduate degree, he entered the Korean Air Force and served as a Captain for 3 years.  His only child, Yoongie, was born in 1963 in Seoul.  In 1964, BK came to the United States seeking a better life for his family.  In 1967, he earned his Master’s degree in chemistry at the University of California at Irvine.  He and his family then moved to College Station, Texas and where he earned his PhD studies in chemical engineering at Texas A&M University in 1971.  

BK and his family then relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he worked in research at the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania.  In 1973, B.K. accepted a chemical engineering position with U.S. Steel and the family relocated to Wheelersburg, Ohio.  In 1981, B.K. was transferred to Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he continued his employment with U.S. Steel.  In 1985, BK was offered the opportunity to return to South Korea and become the manager of the Research Institute of Chemical Technology based in Daejon.  In 1998, he became the President of the Korean Institute of Footwear Technology based in Busan, South Korea.  In this role, he traveled the world and was instrumental in developing much of the design and technology still used in athletic footwear today.  

After his retirement in 1998, BK and Insae relocated back to the United States and spent the next 20 years living in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.  In 2018, they moved to Hilliard, Ohio to be closer to their son, daughter-in-law and two grandsons.  BK was a man of quiet strength and enjoyed gardening, poetry, ballroom dancing, and playing the stock market.  He loved their dog, Sasha, his ever present furry companion. But above all, he enjoyed being a husband to his beloved wife of 65 years, and being a father and grandfather. He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers Byung Soo Min and Byung Han Min. BK is survived by his wife, Insae Min, his son Dr. Yoongie Min (Jacqueline) of Hilliard, his grandsons Andrew Min of Hilliard, and Alex Min of Chicago.  He is also survived by two brothers, Byung Kee Min (Bong) of South Korea, Byung Kak Min (Myong) of New York City, and sister Chung Hee of South Korea, and numerous nephews and nieces.  BK was a wonderful man who will be missed by all of his family and friends, but especially by his wife, Insae who spent nearly 70 years by his side.  Private services entrusted to Tidd Funeral Home, Hilliard, Ohio.

Please share your favorite memories of B.K. or send your condolences to his family by visiting: www.tiddfuneralservice.com.