Born in Seoul, raised in what is known today as Koreatown in Los Angeles. Whenever I’m in a rose garden, you will see me smelling roses any chance I get to do so because my father instilled in me a love for flowers and nature growing up. As an immigrant family, we didn’t have much money for the latest toys or trips to amusement parks. Instead, my father took my brother and I regularly on weekly visits to the neighborhood park in Koreatown. After playing on the playground, he would pick a couple of dainty clover flowers and weave the stems into a ring for me. The rings he made were so beautiful and I would prance about with giddiness wearing them. The memories my father created shaped my perspective ~ weeds and thorns are a part of life but keep an eye out for the bejeweled flowers and delight in the fragrance of roses among thorn bushes.
AUTHOR, SUNNY-KIM BARDEN
Chosun 조선 is synonymous with Korea or most things Korea is known for. Chosun refers to Korea’s last and longest dynasty shaping what Korea is today. In essence, Chosun/Korean culture and history are synonymous with resilience, colorfulness, no filters, perpetually adapting to changes, yet retaining the timeless spirit and symbols of Chosun, and amazing bold flavors of Korean cuisine central to Korean culture.
The Korean language incorporates countless play on words. Korean expressions can be literally visceral, invoking strong imageries. Chic which sounds like 식 “shik” in Korean can mean style, expression, ceremony, or meal. Chosun also sounds like chosen. So I’ve chosen and created Chosun Chic to share Korean culture and the Korean way.