ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Master Pak still can't bear to look at the martial arts center where he devoted 16 years of his life. Inside the building were awards, pictures, honors and memories of the life he and his family built in Rock Hill.

One week after a deliberately-set fire destroyed his livelihood at Pak’s Martial Arts Center, Pak and his family again met with reporters. Master Pak spoke out for the first time.

"I don't understand why this happened," he said, shaking his head and holding back his emotions.

The family is eager for answers and so are York County sheriff's detectives. They are offering a $1,000 reward through Crime Stoppers for any information that leads to an arrest in the case.

There have been some developments. Deputies said they are talking to several people of interest who they described as possible suspects.

They have also asked businesses on nearby Cherry Road for their surveillance video from the time of the fire.

Investigators still won't say how the fire started, or where, except that it's clearly arson. Detective Johnny Martin talked about the offensive, racial graffiti found sprayed all over the building on the morning of the fire. It used vulgar words that slur African- and Asian-Americans.

"The graffiti happened the same night as the arson," Martin said. "So we do think it was done by the suspect, but we're not sure."

Master Pak's son Daniel said the cruel words still bother him.

"It's sickening. I'm just sick to my stomach," he said. "We've gone through a lot in this country, and we still have this kind of problem. It's really upsetting."

During the news conference outside the burned-out building, friends and tae kwon do students came to support the Paks.

"It's very disturbing to see something like this done to a man who's given back so much to the community," said student Mandy Oliver.

She and her three children all took martial arts classes from Master Pak and were usually at the center three days a week.

"It's such a horrible disrespect," she said.

But the community is coming together for the Pak family. Less than a mile from the old building, Pak's Martial Arts will reopen for classes on Monday.

The new location is on Cherry Road in the Compare Foods shopping center. Students and friends are helping the family get the new place ready for next week.

"The people have just really been a blessing to us," Master Pak said. "I'm going to keep going. I'm not going down."

Deputies need your help to find out who set the fire at the martial arts studio. If you saw anything suspicious in the overnight hours of last Wednesday June 24, York County sheriff's deputies want to hear from you. The fire was called in at 2:19 a.m. The business was on Cranford Street in Rock Hill just off Cherry Road.

Call Crime Stoppers at 877-409-4321 or the state arson hotline at 1-800-92-ARSON.