WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 14, 2025) – SHIA Restaurant, the non-profit Korean fine dining establishment, today announces the final selection of six candidates for its intensive, 10-week SHIA Pitch Day Fall 2025 Program. This initiative empowers the next generation of Korean American culinary entrepreneurs to launch their own restaurant concepts. The SHIA Pitch Day program is possible thanks to the generous support of the Naeil Foundation and the YS Kim Foundation, alongside a dedicated network of expert partners.

"We are incredibly proud to back this ambitious cohort," said Monica H. Kang, Chief Strategy and Partnerships Officer at SHIA. "We are giving these entrepreneurs the critical business foundation they need to turn their unique visions into thriving realities."

 

Meet the 2025 Finalists

The six finalists and their diverse concepts represent the future of innovative dining:

Min Cheol Shin: Launching Dachaerom(다채롬), envisioned as Brooklyn’s first Korean fine dining restaurant and cultural space.

Kiki Kim: Developing Isum (meaning "breath"), a chef's table concept blending Korean heritage, French techniques, and conceptual art events.

Sechul Yang: Set to open a Korean Trattoria in 2026, fusing Italian and Korean flavors.

William Lee: Fine dining veteran (Oiji Mi, Bōm, Blue Hill Farms, Alinea Group) developing Billie's, a Korean American contemporary diner concept in New York

Soo Young Cho: Launching Sot, a fast-casual spot focused on sotbap (Korean rice pot) and tea pairings.

Dayae (Diane) Lee: The creative mind behind nooWoRI, Korean flavors meet everyday simplicity.

 

Mentorship and Pitch Day Competition

Finalists are receiving hands-on mentorship from acclaimed chefs and restaurateurs, including Edward Lee (SHIA), Thomas Oh (Perilla), Sungchul Shim (Kochi, Mari), and Ji Hye Kim (Miss Kim). They will also receive crucial business mentorship and training from expert partners including Patterson CPA, Ad Cucina, Prestige Ledroit Distributing Co., Eleven Eleven PR, and EDENS.

The program culminates on December 22, 2025, with a live Pitch Day competition at SHIA. Candidates will present their full business plans to a distinguished panel of Judges, including Danny Lee (Anju, CHIKO), Ellia Park (Atomix, Naro), Dan Simons (Farmers Restaurant Group), and Erin Wade (Author of The Mac & Cheese Millionaire), with the winner receiving a $5,000 grant to support the launch of their restaurant business.