The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Wed, August 10, 2022 | 02:01
Trends
Sohn dreams of mom and pop chicken store
Posted : 2017-05-07 19:43
Updated : 2017-05-07 22:09
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Fashion model and ceo of Sohn Sohn Grilled Chicken restaurant Sohn Min-ho / Courtesy of Sohn Min-ho (Olive Magazine)
Fashion model and ceo of Sohn Sohn Grilled Chicken restaurant Sohn Min-ho / Courtesy of Sohn Min-ho (Olive Magazine)

By Kim Jae-heun

Sohn Min-ho, 29, has been modeling for 10 years and he has no doubt that modeling is God's calling for him. Lately he came to hear his inner voice about a humble profession that he'd like to pursue during the rest of his life _ that of being an owner of a small chicken restaurant.


His dream has since gone specific. Sohn wants a mom-and-pop chicken store, rather than a franchise having nationwide eatery chains.

"I did not live an ordinary life when I was young," said Sohn during the interview with The Korea Times at Sohn Sohn Grilled Chicken restaurant in Doota Mall, central Seoul, Friday. "I had to help my parents financially, working part times jobs. While working at a chicken restaurant, I could not help envying the old married couple working together happily. Since then, it was my dream to own a chicken restaurant and live a normal life with my wife."

With all the money he earned as a model in eight years, Sohn opened a shop in Itaewon in Dec. 2015.

Noma Han wants to be called tattooist
Noma Han wants to be called tattooist
2017-05-07 19:31  |  Trends

He took the "peri-peri" sauce from the global chicken franchise Nando's restaurant and spread them on his grilled chicken, expecting to draw a lot of foreign customers in the "Western Town" of Korea.

However, he realized that most of the visitors to his restaurant were his fans, who came to see him and maybe try the chicken since they are there. But many Koreans did not like the strong taste of peri-peri sauce and Sohn decided to develop an easy and unique flavor that can appeal to local customers.

The most popular sauce at Sohn Sohn Grilled Chicken, "apple garlic" now sells on 90 percent of all orders and the store has reached sales of 50 chickens a day in Itaewon. He says it is a large amount considering his restaurant is small. The restaurant sells other sauces like "hot chili" and "herb salt."

This year, he moved his restaurant to Doota Mall in Jung-gu, central Seoul, where he expects to see more global visitors in one of the busiest tourist attractions in the country.

"We grill our chicken, not fry them. I started the business because I like chicken and I don't get fed up with the food even if I eat it every day. I eat chicken at my restaurant at least three times a week to see if the taste has changed.

"If I have no modeling schedule, I am in the restaurant all day. I try to be there at 15 to 20 times a month because I still have many fans coming from Thailand and Japan to only see me. I don't want to disappoint them," said Sohn.



Emailjhkim@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
  • Capital region to see additional 300 millimeters of rain until Friday
  • [PHOTOS] Damage after torrential rains
  • Visa regulation pits Jeju islanders against justice ministry
  • Canadian YouTuber takes viewers on brewing adventures in Korea
  • Yoon details whereabouts during record downpour to curb conspiracy theory
  • Former Starbucks Korea CEO leads growth of Shinsegae brand JAJU
  • Heavy downpour disrupts e-commerce deliveries
  • North Korea releases water from border dam after downpours
  • Ex-President Lee Myung-bak unlikely to be released
  • Coupang aims to strengthen profitability through financial biz
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • Netflix's 'Narco-Saints' to be released Sept. 9 Netflix's 'Narco-Saints' to be released Sept. 9
    • [INTERVIEW] Leandro Erlich's questioning of our perception of reality carries new meaning in pandemic [INTERVIEW] Leandro Erlich's questioning of our perception of reality carries new meaning in pandemic
    • BLACKPINK to start world tour in October BLACKPINK to start world tour in October
    • [INTERVIEW] Im Si-wan found own narrative for villain role in 'Emergency Declaration' [INTERVIEW] Im Si-wan found own narrative for villain role in 'Emergency Declaration'
    • 'Free Chol Soo Lee': How young Korean immigrant's wrongful conviction led to pan-Asian American resistance movement 'Free Chol Soo Lee': How young Korean immigrant's wrongful conviction led to pan-Asian American resistance movement
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group