Chef Woo Youl Jo, Guardian of KYCT (Korea Young Chef Team) and Alum of London's Michelin-Star Restaurant, Steps Up as Mentor for Promising Young Chef Hwi Won Son

Chef Woo Youl Jo, who honed his world-class culinary skills at a 2-Michelin-star restaurant in London, is sending ripples through the culinary world by offering full support and mentorship to 14-year-old South Korean culinary prodigy Hwi Won Son.
 

[Chef Woo Youl Jo guiding young chef Hwi Won Son on-site (Provided by KYCT Reporter Mun Su Kim, Photo Journalist Hyun Ho Lee)]

Chef Jo is an alumnus of "Alex Dilling at The Cafe Royal," a 2-Michelin-star restaurant in London, and has built profound expertise in London's premier fine-dining scenes, including the 1-Michelin-star restaurants "Brat Restaurant" and "Akoko." Having accumulated intense experience at the epicenter of global gastronomy, he is now deeply committed to nurturing the next generation and advancing the culinary arts.
 
A Relentless Journey and the Struggle to Become a "Good Chef"
 
Chef Jo's path was far from smooth. Throughout his career as a chef, the questions he asked himself the most were, "Is this path truly right for me?" and "What kind of chef do I want to be remembered as?"
 
To find those answers, he immersed himself in various environments rather than settling in one field. In Seoul, he started at an American-French restaurant, served as head chef for a 200-seat establishment, and worked as a franchise menu development team leader. Later moving to London, he worked intensely in kitchens with diverse philosophies, including a West African restaurant, a wood-fire restaurant selected as one of the World's Best Restaurants, and a French restaurant. He continues his pursuit today, setting his sights on another Michelin-starred restaurant. While some might view this career path as fragmented, to him it was a precious process of answering the question: "How is a good chef made?"
 

"Passing on the Mentorship I Never Received"
 
Looking back, Chef Woo Youl Jo felt a deep thirst for a mentor who could guide him along his culinary journey. Harder than mastering techniques was the lack of guidance on what standards to learn by, which experiences to choose, and how to turn failures into growth.
 

[Top: 'Warmth-Sharing Relay Campaign, Jeju'. From left: Chef Jin Seo Kim, Young Chef Kyu Lyn Kim, Heebab, Young Chef Hwi Won Son, Chef Woo Youl Jo / Second: Young Chefs Kyu Lyn Kim and Hwi Won Son participating in the King Bibimbap performance / Third: Young Chefs Kyu Lyn Kim and Hwi Won Son receiving the Hibab Scholarship / Bottom: MOU signing ceremony between WE'D LIKE(CEO Nyla Kim) and KYCT(Chairman Youn Don Kim) (Provided by KYCT Reporter Mun Su Kim, Photo Journalist Hyun Ho Lee)]

By constantly jumping into new environments to fill those gaps, he discovered his own answers through hands-on experience, ranging from the delicate art of fine dining to building operational manuals that anyone can replicate. Because of those rigorous times, he made a firm resolution: to become someone who could provide the next generation with the mentorship he never received.
 
This is why he serves as a Guardian for KYCT (Korea Young Chef Team), traveling across the country to give young chefs diverse field experiences. He wants to be more than just a technique instructor—he aims to be a mentor who helps juniors discover their dreams and directions, walking alongside them to light their way. Helping them grow faster and stronger by trusting their own potential, rather than facing countless trials alone as he once did, remains the greatest value forged from all his experiences.
 
Unyielding Passion Across 400 Kilometers and a Fateful Meeting with 14-Year-Old Hwi Won Son
 
Chef Woo Youl Jo's philosophy deepened further when he met Hwi Won Son (2nd year, Gangneung Solol Middle School), a 14-year-old shining brightly with extraordinary passion, leading him to offer wholehearted support.
 
In Gangneung, a culinary "barren land" where even professional cooking academies are scarce, Hwi Won Son refused to let the 400-kilometer round trip deter him, traveling back and forth to Seoul every weekend to quench his thirst for learning. Despite his tender age, his gleaming gaze and fierce dedication as he traveled the vast distance alone to throw himself into the kitchen instantly moved Chef Woo Youl Jo's heart.
 
Moreover, Son did not merely focus on winning competitions or personal glory. He actively participated in various volunteer initiatives to practice sharing, and proudly showed his face at international events promoting K-food to the world, proving the depth of his character and approach toward cooking.
 
Combining unyielding determination that overcame a harsh local environment, a warm personality that puts others first, and genuine sincerity toward his craft, Hwi Won Son has found a steadfast pillar of support in Chef Woo Youl Jo, who continues to provide heartfelt mentorship to help him grow into a global chef.
 
The First Practical Stage at the "WE'D LIKE" Booth, the Warmth-Sharing Relay Campaign, and a Leap Toward the World
 
Their steadfast journey made its public debut recently through the "Warmth-Sharing Relay Campaign" held by KYCT (Chairman, Young Don Kim) at the "Food Tech Farming⁺ Jeju Fair." Providing them with a magnificent stage was WE'D LIKE, a company drawing strong attention for influencer collaborations and differentiated brand entertainment strategies.
 
Featuring Kyu Lyn Kim (3rd year, Jamsil Middle School)—the pioneering leader who made her mark at a tender age and built an unmatched legacy as a representative of the "middle school chef era"—alongside Hwi Won Son, who is displaying dazzling growth in her footsteps, this stage held profound symbolic significance. WE'D LIKE goes beyond simple product distribution, embracing a core philosophy of combining innovative content and commerce to add joy to everyday life while pioneering the value of K-food and exceptional content on the global stage. Notably, WE'D LIKE announced that this event served as an occasion to sign an official partnership with KYCT (Korea Young Chef Team), joining hands to pioneer global markets together, drawing even greater attention.
 
Nyla Kim, CEO of WE'D LIKE, shared the background of their cooperation:
 
"Seeing Hwi Won Son, who quietly nurtures his culinary dream without blaming his circumstances, Kyu Lyn Kim, who has opened new horizons for the South Korean culinary world, and Chef Woo Youl Jo, who genuinely cherishes junior chefs, challenging the world together perfectly aligns with WE'D LIKE's philosophy of creating new values, expanding the horizons of K-food, and pioneering global markets. Their direction resonated with our identity of striving to compete boldly in vast and harsh markets with small yet outstanding skill and originality, prompting us to offer them our main stage without hesitation."
 
Meanwhile, heartwarming encouragement filled the scene as well. Popular YouTuber Hibab attended to cheer on the dreams and passions of young chefs Kyu Lyn Kim and Hwi Won Son, presenting each with a scholarship of 5 million won to add deeper meaning to the event.
 
Brought together by KYCT (Korea Young Chef Team) and its journeys nationwide, Kyu Lyn Kim, Hwi Won Son, Chef Woo Youl Jo who molds exceptional talent with sincerity, and WE'D LIKE standing as a reliable partner to champion their challenges, this stage marks a precious starting signal for a genuine journey transcending borders and generations to pioneer K-food for the world.
  

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