Among the palm trees and swimming pools of Los Angeles’s pristine Hancock Park, notable Korean creatives of all ages gathered with GYOPO to celebrate Chuseok—the harvest moon festival—over food and drink provided by Korean Angelenos. The organization, named for the historical term associated with the Korean diaspora, met for their sixth annual brunch benefit Sunday afternoon to herald in the beginning of autumn. The mid-September holiday celebrates abundance, community, and gratitude.
This year, it also celebrated renowned chefs—husband and wife, Kwang Uh and Mina Park—owners of Shiku (meaning “the people you share food with”) and Baroo. The latter, their cult-classic strip-mall eatery, was recently named the Los Angeles Times’s Restaurant of the Year. Chef Justin Min, formerly of Hanchic, cooked for the honorees and guests, bringing his own modern take on Korean classics.
“Mina and Kwang embody the creative, generous, ambitious, and experimental spirit that GYOPO values the most,” an organization representative said of the distinguished couple. “They are culinary artists who are unclassifiable, and we love artists that can’t be put in a box.”
Co-hosted by film and television producer Samie Kim Falvey and curator Mia Locks—and joined by actor and podcaster Steffie Baik from The Portrait—the event was as star-studded as its host committee. Beats were provided by DJ R.E.A. and guests included comedian Joel Kim Booster, fashion designer Carol Lim, and actor Randall Park. The latter is a past honoree, as is poet and writer Cathy Park Hong and Emmy-award winning actor Steven Yeun.
The proceeds from the benefit help fund free year-round public programming, as well as the organization’s mission of redefining “Koreanness” in expansive, intersectional ways. Since the organization’s inception in 2017 under Christine Y. Kim, it has maintained its mission, in and beyond Los Angeles, partnering with other institutions including LACMA, MOCA, and the Academy Museum.
The leaves may not change colors over Hancock Park, and Los Angeles may not catch that nostalgic autumn breeze anytime soon, but Chuseok leaves the GYOPO community with much to celebrate.
