Edward Young-min Kwon (born February 10, 1972)Ang, Eve. "Chef Edward Kwon: On a Mission to Globalize Korean Cuisine." CNNGo. 25 May 2011. Web. 06 Sept. 2011. is a South Korean

celebrity chef A celebrity chef is a kitchen chef who has become a celebrity. Today, chefs often become celebrities by presenting cookery advice and demonstrations, usually through the media of television and radio, or in printed publications. While television ...

who has made a mission for himself to globalize

Korean cuisine Korean cuisine has evolved through centuries of social and political change. Originating from ancient agricultural and nomadic traditions in Korea and southern Manchuria, Korean cuisine reflects a complex interaction of the natural envi ...

. Kwon has held many senior chef positions in luxury hotels in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

, and the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...

Background

Kwon was raised in

Gangneung Gangneung () is a municipal city in the province of Gangwon-do, on the east coast of South Korea. It has a population of 213,658 (as of 2017).Gangneung City (2003)Population & Households. Retrieved January 14, 2006. Gangneung is the economic ...

, a seaside town on the eastern coast of

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

. Prior to his career as a culinary chef, he received an education at Gangneung Yeongdong College. Kwon had started his career at the

Ritz-Carlton The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC is an American multinational company that operates the luxury hotel chain known as The Ritz-Carlton. The company has 108 luxury hotels and resorts in 30 countries and territories with 29,158 rooms, in addit ...

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...

and in 2001, transferred to

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

to work at the

Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay is a luxury hotel and golf resort in Half Moon Bay northern California. The hotel is a Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes Five Star hotel, and was featured on the travel channel series Great Hotels. The hotel has 261 rooms, ...

.Koehler, Robert. "Seoul Selection". At age 32, Kwon decided to move back to South Korea to assume the position of executive

sous chef A sous-chef is a chef who is second in command in a kitchen; the person ranking next after the head chef, usually the more hands on manager with regards to training staff and organising the kitchen. Duties and functions The sous-chef has many re ...

at the

W Hotel W Hotels is an American upscale lifestyle hotel chain owned by Marriott International that is marketed towards a younger age group. History W Hotels was launched in 1998 with W New York, a conversion of the former Doral Inn hotel on Lexington ...

in Seoul. Soon after, Kwon went to China, and later became the hotel head chef at the

Burj al-Arab Hotel The Burj Al Arab ( ar, برج العرب, ''Arab Tower'') is a luxury hotel located in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Managed by Jumeirah hotel group, it is one of the tallest hotels in the world, although 39% of its total height ...

Dubai Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...

. In 2009, Kwon returned to Seoul . As of 2011, he hosted his own television show, ''Yes Chef''.

Restaurants

Kwon owns three restaurants in Seoul. Eddie's Café, located in the

Seocho District Seocho District () is one of the 25 ''Administrative divisions of South Korea#Gu (District), gu'' (local government districts) which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. Seocho is generally referred to as a part of Gangnam (Seoul), Greater Gan ...

, is a restaurant that offers European/Western style food at a mid-range price."Edward Kwon of Seoul". ''Seoul in the City''. 27 Mar. 2010. Web. 12 Sept. 2011. Located in

Hannam-dong Hannam-dong is a '' dong'', neighbourhood of Yongsan-gu in Seoul, South Korea. One of the most affluent neighborhoods in the country, it has been portrayed continuously in South Korea's popular culture as a wealthy and luxurious spot, and for this ...

is a restaurant called "The Mixed One". The Mixed One is a California Multi cuisine

bistro A bistro or bistrot , is, in its original Parisian incarnation, a small restaurant, serving moderately priced simple meals in a modest setting. Bistros are defined mostly by the foods they serve. French home-style cooking, and slow-cooked foods ...

offering reasonable prices. The third restaurant, Lab XXIV, located in

Cheongdam-dong Cheongdam-dong () is a ward of Gangnam District in Seoul, South Korea. The area is best known in South Korea as an affluent neighborhood populated by a disproportionately high number of high-income individuals and for having some of the most expen ...

, features contemporary European styled cuisine."Review: Edward Kwon's Lab XXIV." Expat. Souleats, 20 July 2011. Web. 12 Sept. 2011.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kwon, Edward Young-min 1972 births Living people South Korean chefs