Seoul Born
Chef Jae Eun Jung was born and raised in Seoul, Korea. “I always wanted to go find something nice to eat,” Chef Jae laughs, describing her childhood. “I loved food so much.” Jae’s family first insisted she find her way in a corporate office culture, but she found it unsatisfying. “I was working as a translator, but I was in search of what to do with my life. Eventually I realized I should pursue what I loved, instead of what other people thought was good for me. Some of my best memories were of cooking for friends on photography outings, so I thought maybe I should cook.”
In 2008, Jae applied and gained acceptance to the Culinary Institute of America in New York. She worked several jobs to save money for tuition and expenses, while staying up late practicing her language skills. “I never imagined what it would be like to live in another city, or another culture. Seoul was my whole world.”
When Jae broke the news to her family that she was leaving for culinary school in the United States, their reaction was harsh. “My family wasn’t supportive,” Jae says, “My mom was a chef, she didn’t want me to go through that. She wanted me to work a nice job and get settled. My dad was definitely worried. I wouldn’t have a driver’s license, any guardians, or a family in America. Mom says (in Korean), “I feel like I’m leaving a five-year-old by the river.” But Jae was determined.
In 2008, Jae moved from Seoul to New York. “It was really cold. I had four luggages, and I was so lost.” Jae was in a new city alone, without much support. “People were hustling, everyone pushing. This is not what I saw on Sex and the City!” Jae remembers, “I was sad to leave my family, but I was excited. I was nervous about my future because I had no clue. Coming to New York was a hardship, but it was the best decision I have ever made.”