i. Biography
Kang Min-chul is chef and owner of KANG MINCHUL Restaurant in Seoul, with a practice rooted in French cuisine and shaped by work across Seoul at GiwaKang. The name appears on the door, but the point is the range: one kitchen built around his own restaurant, another carried by the same chef as executive chef at GiwaKang.
The Path
Hotel and restaurant kitchens in the United States formed the early base of Kang Min-chul’s craft, giving him exposure to different service tempos and kitchen structures before his Seoul work took shape. That background now sits behind his current roles as owner-chef of KANG MINCHUL Restaurant and executive chef of GiwaKang.
The Work Today
At KANG MINCHUL Restaurant, the position is owner-chef; at GiwaKang, the role is executive chef. Kang Min-chul describes the standard plainly: "I want to present an overwhelming experience — irreplaceable and distinctive in its existence." The line reads less like branding than a brief for the room, setting expectation around scale, distinction, and pressure.
Signature
Kang Min-chul’s signatures are caviar-laced bibimbap, scallops with pumpkin mousse, and dry-aged duck. The list shows the range clearly: a Korean staple reworked with caviar, a shellfish plate pumpkin mousse, and duck handled through dry aging.
In Their Words “I want to present an overwhelming experience — irreplaceable and distinctive in its existence.” “I am Kang Min-chul, the owner-chef of Kang Min-chul Restaurant and Giwagang.”
Acclaim
Kang Min-chul has received MICHELIN Guide Seoul, One MICHELIN Star (2023). One MICHELIN Star (2023) marks Kang Min-chul’s work at KANG MINCHUL Restaurant.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Kang
What is Kang Min-chul's current role?
As of 2026, Kang Min-chul is chef and owner.
What recognition has Kang Min-chul received?
One MICHELIN Star (2023).
