Jungsik Yim

Jungsik - Seoul, South Korea

Chef Jungsik Yim is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of modern Korean cuisine, redefining traditional flavors through a contemporary lens and introducing Korean fine dining to the global culinary stage.

A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America in New York, Chef Yim further honed his craft at acclaimed restaurants Akelare and Zuberoa in San Sebastián, Spain, before opening JUNGSIK Seoul in 2009 and JUNGSIK New York in 2011. His visionary approach to Korean cuisine has earned international acclaim, establishing JUNGSIK as one of the world’s leading fine dining destinations.

In 2012, Chef Yim became the first Korean chef to earn a Michelin star. Today, JUNGSIK New York holds three Michelin stars (awarded in 2024), while JUNGSIK Seoul has maintained two Michelin stars since 2018. Throughout his career, his restaurants have consistently been recognized among Asia’s and the world’s best, including rankings in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, La Liste’s Top 1000 Restaurants, and Opinionated About Dining’s Top 100 Asian Restaurants. JUNGSIK has also received multiple Wine Spectator awards for excellence.

Beyond his restaurants, Chef Yim has represented Korean cuisine on the international stage through collaborations with organizations including Singapore Airlines and Nespresso, served as a judge for the S.Pellegrino Young Chef competition, and hosted a distinguished dinner at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In 2022, he received the Culinary Institute of America Leadership Award in recognition of his impact on the global culinary community.

Most recently, Chef Yim was honored with the 2025 James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef, one of the highest distinctions in the American culinary industry, further cementing his legacy as one of the world’s most influential chefs and an ambassador for modern Korean gastronomy.