J.W. Lee, a Korean-American chef who has opened 16 Asian restaurants in Colorado over the past 16 years, including a prominent Korean restaurant, has become a sensational figure in the state’s culinary scene.
On January 10, The Denver Post featured a profile on J.W. Lee, a Korean-American chef, often dubbed the unofficial mayor of Aurora’s Koreatown.
Lee, who opened nine Asian restaurants in Aurora, played a pivotal role in establishing Koreatown there in 2021, according to the publication. Aurora’s Koreatown, which covers a 4.3-mile radius, is now home to about 30 Korean restaurants. About nine of them are run by Lee. He founded Seoul Hospitality Group, which now operates 16 Asian restaurants in Colorado, including Korean-style dumplings, fried chicken, barbecue, and Vietnamese pho.
Born and raised in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, South Korea, Lee’s culinary journey began at age 19 when he started working at a sushi restaurant, fueled by his passion for the culinary arts. In 1998, Lee immigrated to Los Angeles, driven by his American dream of becoming a renowned chef. “I always wanted to open a business,” he said. Lee worked seven days a week for about a year at a sushi restaurant in LA and took English classes during the day.
In 2003, Lee relocated to Colorado, where he opened his first sushi restaurant. He says lawyers, real estate brokers, and others who came to the restaurant as customers helped him open his restaurant by finding locations and securing contracts. The reason Lee was able to succeed in the restaurant business without investors was because of his relationships with customers, Lee explained.
Lee’s inaugural sushi restaurant proved successful, eventually expanding to seven locations. In 2011, Lee sold all of his stores and moved to Denver, where he expanded his culinary business, starting with a ramen shop and then opening a range of other Asian restaurants, including Korean cuisine.
“It is my commitment to provide ways to experience Korean culture,” Lee said. Looking forward, Lee is planning to open a Korean-style pub this summer, with the ambitious goal of launching 100 restaurants across the nation.
BY YEJIN KIM, HOONSIK WOO [kim.yejin3@koreadaily.com]
