Obituary of Taylor Dunlap

Taylor Andrew Dunlap, 35, passed away from complications of a pulmonary embolism on April 5th, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. He was surrounded by his beloved wife Yuri Chung, his parents, Steve and Sue Dunlap, his sister, Gayle Dombroski, and his cousin Nick Dunlap.

Taylor was born on May 26, 1989 in Iowa City, Iowa to Steve and Sue Dunlap. He attended Iowa City Schools and the University of Iowa, graduating with a degree in finance from the Tippee College of Business. After graduation, he moved to Baltimore, MD and then to Chicago, IL where he where me met the love of his life, Yuri Chung. They were married in Chicago on November 5, 2022 and his time spent with Yuri were the happiest moments of his life.

He had a successful career in commercial mortgage lending working for Aegon Asset Management (TransAmerica), first in Baltimore, MD and then in Chicago. Later he worked for Manulife investment Management in Chicago.  Most recently, he and his wife relocated to South Korea for Yuri’s career with the FBI.  Taylor most recently worked for the United States Embassy in Seoul.  He worked in the Public Diplomacy section where he was highly respected and valued for his commitment and dedication to his work. He led public-private sector partnerships in Seoul and Washington, DC, acting as the U.S. Government representative in the Fulbright Executive Director Search in South Korea, supported the American Diplomacy House Academy, and volunteered his expertise to advance various Public Engagement Unit initiatives and programming.

Taylor excelled in all things he applied himself to, including, his most recent endeavor-learning to read and write Korean. Professionally he was known for his calm demeanor, dedication, ambition, humor and wit. He was intentional in all things both personally and professionally. He had a wide variety of interests and was dedicated to learning and exceling in everything he did. His friends and family were continuously amazed by the depth and intricacies of his knowledge on a wide and diverse range of topics.

Taylor’s warmth and generosity are apparent in the depths of the relationships he developed in each phase of his life. He was a loyal and steadfast friend, regardless of location or time zone. While he enjoyed many of the finer things in life, especially when it came to shoes, food, and watches, he was always up for a dive bar, a plate full of wings and some reality TV. His quick wit and dry humor will be missed by those lucky enough to be in his company.  While many of his friends were lifelong, he quickly established close friendships while in Korea, including one of his dearest companions, Quincy the Corgi. Taylor had a deep love and appreciation for animals, especially dogs and looked forward to the day he and Yuri would adopt their own. 

The privilege of having Taylor as their son is the greatest blessing and honor of his parent’s life. As a brother, Taylor was a loyal confidant and faithful friend. Taylor has forever changed the life of his wife by the depth and magnitude of his unwavering and irreplaceable love, gentleness, and commitment. His family will be forever grateful for the time they had together. He is survived by his greatest love, wife Yuri Chung,  his parents Steve and Sue Dunlap, his sister Gayle (Dan) Dombroski, his nieces and nephews, Ryan (8), Jack (6) and Drake (4), his grandmother  (Mommer) Patricia Salladay,  beloved aunts and uncles and cousins. His mother and father in law Kimmy and John Chung, his sister in law Katye Jung, Savannah (8), Elliot (6), his sister in law Rubi (Paul) Kang, Aubrie (6), Owen (4)  aunts, uncles, and cousins as well as many friends in the United States and Korea.

The family would like to especially recognize his best friends since childhood, cousin Nick Dunlap, Joey Townsend and Kirk Eno.

He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Jack and Loraine Dunlap and his maternal grandfather Jack Salladay.

Taylor’s family will be eternally thankfull for the level of care and support shown by his colleagues in Public Diplomacy, FBI Seoul, the Health Unit within The Embassy and The Embassy community at large. He received compassionate care by the medical staff that worked fervently to save his life and ultimately let him pass in peace.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Safe Haven Animal Rescue or Domo’s Friends, two organizations close to Taylors heart. https://venmo.com/u/domosfriends and https://www.paypal.me/domosfriends. Safe Haven Animal Rescue link https://account.venmo.com/u/SafeHaven-ofIowaCounty?catchAll=u&catchAll=SafeHaven-ofIowaCounty

There will be a gathering of remembrance held at Gay & Ciha on Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 4pm-6pm after which the family invites those who loved Taylor to join in celebrating his life at Shakespeare’s from 6pm-9pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Safe Haven Animal Rescue or Domo’s Friends, two organizations close to Taylors heart.