CHEF SEUNGBOK KANG’S MASTERY DELIVERS REFINED CULINARY EXPERIENCE AT GENESIS LOUNGE

SEOUL, Aug. 29, 2025 — The uniqueness of the Genesis Lounge can be attributed to its refined design and atmosphere, elevated further by a distinctive culinary experience that is available exclusively within this space. With a view of both Seoul’s iconic Mount Namsan and the historic Yeong Bin Gwan garden, guests can savor the changing seasons of Korea through thoughtfully curated gastronomic delights that reflect Genesis’ distinctly Korean hospitality.

Seungbok Kang, the head chef at the Genesis Lounge, is a seasoned culinary master with 18 years of experience at one of Korea's most prestigious luxury hotels, the Shilla Seoul. Having honed his craft in the banquet division and at the French restaurant Continental, he later showcased a wide range of dishes at the acclaimed La Yeon, Korea’s first three-star Michelin restaurant serving Korean cuisine.

Kang brings his expertise to the Genesis Lounge by reimagining traditional Korean ingredients with a modern, innovative flair. Each dish is meticulously crafted to embody Genesis’ philosophy of exceptional hospitality, delivering a one-of-a-kind dining experience that is exclusive to the Genesis Lounge. Kang was able to share insights into his process and inspiration during a recent interview at the Genesis Lounge in Seoul.

How long have you been a part of the Genesis Lounge?

I’ve been working with the Genesis team since July 2022, even before the official opening of the Genesis Lounge. Compared to my previous experience working in other hotel restaurants, this role has been both a new challenge and a refreshing journey — one that I’ve found deeply rewarding and enjoyable.

How does overseeing the dining service at the Genesis Lounge differ from your experience in hotel restaurants?

The biggest difference lies in the scale and audience. Unlike hotel restaurants that often serve hundreds of guests at once, the Genesis Lounge is an intimate, exclusive space reserved for a select few. This allows us to focus on delivering highly personalized service, thoughtfully tailored to each guest’s unique preferences and needs. Even for developing menus, we can carefully consider the tastes and lifestyles of the Lounge visitors to create a dining experience that truly aligns with their expectations.

What is the process behind developing new seasonal menus?

At the Genesis Lounge, our course menus are uniquely designed to reflect the essence of each of the four seasons. Menu planning begins with research into seasonal ingredients and testing. First, we select ingredients that best capture the spirit of the season, then explore how they can be transformed into dishes suited to the Genesis Lounge’s atmosphere, operational philosophy, and the preferences of our guests. These ideas are then refined over the course of a month through samplings, allowing each concept to be brought fully to life. The first results are then reviewed through tastings with the Executive Chef of The Shilla Seoul, the Head of F&B, and the Head Sommelier, incorporating their feedback to enhance the dishes’ quality. Finally, after a tasting with Genesis executives and staff, the dishes are ready to be presented to our guests.

Where do you draw inspiration for menu development?

All culinary ingredients come from nature; seasonal changes and the foods best suited to each season are guided by nature’s order. I have always had the habit of observing and seeking to understand things deeply, but before developing new menus I dedicate even more time to exploring the essence of natural ingredients. It’s essential to preserve their inherent taste, aroma, shape and color, while also considering how they harmonize with other ingredients to create a balanced whole.

What do you prioritize the most when preparing a menu?

My team's feedback. No matter how much I personally like or feel confident about a dish, if my team’s feedback during tastings differs from mine, I’m willing to let the idea go. The menus we serve at the Genesis Lounge are not mine alone, but the results from our entire team. I believe that every team member should feel complete confidence in every dish we serve, as their dedication and sincerity will truly reach our guests. This is especially important for team members who directly serve the dishes, who can directly notice and sense the guests’ reactions in real time. Ensuring they feel proud and assured about what they serve is, above all, what matters most.

Among the menus you’ve created for the Genesis Lounge, is there one you feel particularly attached to or found especially challenging to create?

Since I’m designing menus for Genesis’ top-tier clientele, I focus heavily on expressing Genesis’ philosophy and values through food. Balancing the Korean elements Genesis aims to share with the world while also capturing the brand’s spirit of innovation, challenge and emotion is no small task. Yet this very process is what makes me deeply attached to each menu we create.

One memorable example is when we used burdock root, a quintessentially Korean ingredient often found in everyday dishes, to create unique culinary interpretations such as ice cream, japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), meat noodle soup and chips. This was a bold and creative reinterpretation of a traditional Korean ingredient designed to align with Genesis’ brand vision. The overwhelmingly positive reactions we received from guests made it one of my most memorable projects.

Is there something you hope guests will take away from their dining experience at the Genesis Lounge?

As a chef, food is my language for communicating with guests. What I truly hope is that guests approach the dishes with an open mind, allowing themselves to feel the emotions and messages we aim to convey through each bite.

When designing a menu, I immerse myself in it with the same passion as a young man in love — thinking about it endlessly and pouring my heart into every detail. If this level of care and passion resonates with our guests, it will bring me immense fulfillment and joy.

Looking ahead, what changes or developments can guests expect at the Genesis Lounge?

I believe the defining hallmark of the Genesis Lounge is its exclusivity, especially the unique combination of Genesis’ signature hospitality with a refined culinary experience that deepens our guests’ connection to the brand. Guided by this belief, we devote the utmost care to every menu we create. Going forward, we will continue to reflect upon the voices of our guests to deliver an exceptional dining service that embodies the values of Genesis with the highest standards of sophistication.