Changhyun Kim
Head Chef
Kim is an experienced, qualified chef who started his career in Sydney before moving up to the Sunshine Coast to start a new chapter in his life.
Among the various cuisines he has experienced throughout his life, Japanese cuisine was the most attractive and promising, so he decided to develop these skills further.
He loves seeing his kitchen operate as a team and is delighted to watch his members grow each day with the skills he has taught them.
It also makes him happy to see how plates are presented in different locations.
He says, “It is always rewarding to see dining customers satisfied with our services and hear ‘Thank you’ when they leave.”
He is the most talented and humble Sushi Ari Sippy Downs leader with a great personality and professionalism.
When he is not at work, he enjoys spending time with his partner at a nearby park in Harmony and at some of the local cafes.
Yooneui Kim
Front House Manager
Yooneui (a.k.a. Unee) finds working at Sushi Ari as a restaurant manager rewarding. She is most grateful for her role within the company when regular customers return and express gratitude.
Outside of work, Yooneui loves camping with friends and exploring new cafes. She also enjoys cooking meals for family and friends.
Yooneui says, “Living in Australia has brought countless benefits that I deeply appreciate.” She has met people from diverse backgrounds and learned from their unique experiences, which has helped her grow both personally and professionally.
Looking ahead, her overall goal is to maintain a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and mindful living. Professionally, her vision for the future revolves around contributing even more to Sushi Ari’s growth.
Kumyoung Choi
Founder
Kumyoung Choi started Sushi Ari Sippy Downs in 2018. A North Korean defector, she moved to the Sunshine Coast in Australia in 2015, looking for a safe, quiet place where everyone is treated equally.
Born and raised in North Korea, her real life began when her family decided to cross the border to China. She still remembers horrible days in North Korea and appreciates her daily life on the Sunshine Coast, one of the most blessed places in the world.
These North Korean defectors in Australia are using food to help break down barriers
When she is not in the kitchen, she is busy informing the world how brutal North Korea’s dictator’s regime is. Furthermore, she is also working to help other defectors settle on the Coast if they wish to.
Sungmin Lim
Director
Born in South Korea, Sungmin has always dreamed of running a local restaurant. With a finance and accounting background, he works hard behind the scenes to support Sushi Ari.
Since getting married to Kumyoung, everything around him has changed dramatically. In 2009, Kumyoung and Sungmin visited Canberra and fell in love with Australia, which was the quietest, most peaceful place they had ever seen.
Both Kumyoung and Sungmin moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2014 and immediately knew this would be their home for the rest of their lives.
When he has time away from the business, he loves to visit Mooloolaba with family and friends. On sunny weekends, he visits the Mooloolaba Adventure Playground and nearby BBQ.