Michelin Two-Star Chef Earns a 'Real Star' at Conglomerate... Son Jongwon Lands Shinsegae Executive Role

Leads Eatanic Garden and L'Amant Secret
Gained popularity with an appearance on "Culinary Class Wars 2"
Recognized by a leading global culinary guide

Son Jongwon, the so-called “two-star chef” who leads two Michelin one-star restaurants simultaneously, has been promoted to an executive position at Shinsegae Group.

In its 2027 regular executive reshuffle announced on the 23rd, Shinsegae Group promoted Chef Son, who works for Josun Hotels & Resorts, to a professional executive position. Moon Seonghee, in charge of brand business, and Han Byeongjik, in charge of support, were each promoted to executive director.

Chef Son Jongwon has recently raised his public profile by appearing on Netflix’s variety show “Culinary Class Wars 2” and JTBC’s “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator,” among other programs. Yonhap News Agency

Chef Son serves as head chef at both Eatanic Garden, a Korean fine-dining restaurant at Josun Palace in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and L'Amant Secret, a Western restaurant at L'Escape Hotel. He gained experience at U.S. Michelin three-star restaurants COI and Quince, among others, and joined Shinsegae Group when he became executive chef at L'Amant Secret at the time of L'Escape Hotel's opening in 2018.

Since 2022, he has also overseen Eatanic Garden, earning recognition for his culinary skills spanning Korean and Western cuisine. Both restaurants led by Chef Son received one Michelin star in the “Michelin Guide Seoul & Busan 2026,” announced this year. Eatanic Garden has been selected for four consecutive years since first receiving one Michelin star in 2023, while L'Amant Secret has retained its one-star rating for six consecutive years since 2021.

This is why Chef Son has earned the nickname “Michelin two-star chef.” His talent has also been recognized on the international stage. In 2023, he became the first Korean recipient of the “New Talents of the Year” award in the French gastronomy guide La Liste 2024.

Chef Son serves as head chef at both Eatanic Garden, a Korean fine-dining restaurant at Josun Palace in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and L'Amant Secret, a Western restaurant at L'Escape Hotel. The Asia Business Daily DB.

Recently, he has also raised his public profile by appearing on Netflix's variety show “Culinary Class Wars 2” and JTBC's “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator,” among other programs. His promotion is seen as recognition of the expertise and achievements he has built in the culinary scenes in Korea and abroad.

Shinsegae Group has also previously appointed professionals to executive positions. In its 2021 regular executive reshuffle, Kwon Youngkyu, in charge of culture at Shinsegae, and Hwang Hokyung, in charge of galleries, were promoted to managing director as professional executives.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.