GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Jim Paek, the longest-tenured coach ever for the Grand Rapids Griffins, is leaving to become director of hockey for the Korea Ice Hockey Association (KIHA) and head coach of the Korean Men’s National Team.

Paek, 47, has been an assistant coach for the Griffins for nine of the team’s 18 seasons, beginning in 2005. A native of Seoul, South Korea, Paek was raised in Toronto and earned his U.S. citizenship in 2011.

Under Paek’s leadership, South Korea will attempt to earn its first-ever Olympic hockey berth. The 2018 Winter Olympics will be held in Pyeongchang.

Jim Paek

“I believe this is just an opportunity of a lifetime to gear up for the Olympics,” Paek said of the country’s attempt to compete on its home ice. “We’re hoping that the (International Ice Hockey Federation) will accept us and see this (hiring of a hockey director) as a strong sign of commitment to the program.”

In Grand Rapids, Paek played an essential role in the development of many players with the Red Wings, including current players Jakub Kindl, Jonathan Ericsson, Justin Abdelkader, Jimmy Howard, Tomas Tatar, Darren Helm, Gustav Nyquist and Brendan Smith, to name a few.

Paek will remain with Grand Rapids through next week, and serve as lead instructor for the Griffins’ annual youth hockey camp at Griff’s IceHouse.

“It was a really hard decision,” said Paek, who was in Seoul for three days last week. “Detroit and Grand Rapids, that’s been pretty much my whole career. Nine years. My family is here and it has been everything to me here.”

The Detroit organization and Griffins coach Jeff Blashill will begin a search for a new lead assistant. The Griffins are also still looking to replace second assistant Spiros Anastas, who left after the season to become coach at University of Lethbridge. Blashill said that position should be filled and announced in the next week or two.

"I was extremely fortunate when I got the job to have him on staff," Blashill, who has been with the team two seasons, said of Paek. "It has been more than that. It's his friendship. You go through so much day to day, and to have someone like Jim, and with his knowledge, has been invaluable."

“The Detroit Red Wings congratulate Jim Paek on his appointment to the Korea Ice Hockey Association and Korean National Team,” Ryan Martin, assistant general manager of the Red Wings, said in a press release.

“We are thrilled and excited for him on his well-deserved opportunity. With the 2018 Winter Olympics to be held in Pyeongchang, this is a tremendous opportunity for Jim to oversee the development of hockey players, coaches and administrators across all levels of hockey in his native South Korea.”

Paek won two Stanley Cups as a defenseman with Pittsburgh and a Calder Cup as an assistant coach in Grand Rapids.

As the first Korean to both play in the NHL and have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, Paek has his Penguins jersey displayed in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

He played five seasons in the NHL (1990-95) with 34 points (5-29-34) and 155 penalty minutes in 217 games with Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and Ottawa.

Pete Wallner covers sports for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at pwallner@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.