Meet Hak Sung Kim

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hak Sung Kim. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hak Sung, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

“I believe my resilience comes from facing challenges and setbacks. Most of my early attempts were as fleeting as smoke, and I often found myself in overwhelming situations. But having nothing to lose gave me the strength to start over. Looking back, I see that those failures were actually great teachers—they taught me to be more detail-oriented and realistic in every project. Thankfully, I went through those experiences at a young age, which helped me develop a mindset of constant learning. More importantly, I learned to appreciate what I have and focus on what I can do. This perspective kept me from falling into despair during tough times and gave me the hope to keep moving forward.”

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My name is Kim Hak Sung (Daniel in English). I was born in South Korea and raised in Argentina, allowing me to blend both cultures in my life and my cooking. From a young age, I cooked for my family, learning from my mother and grandmother. Over the years, I refined my skills until gastronomy became my profession.

I love nature. I enjoy camping, having barbecues outdoors, fishing, and observing wildlife. Every time I encounter a deer; I am mesmerized by its beauty. That’s why living in Georgia feels like a dream come true. Waking up to the sound of birds, smelling the forest as I step outside, and seeing the towering trees on my way to work makes me feel like I’m living in a fantasy world. Every morning, I thank God for this privilege.

Regarding my career, I have worked in various industries, from hotels and restaurants to multinational companies like Rational, serving as a cook, chef, and chef instructor. I also have extensive experience as an entrepreneur, having owned several businesses, including a Mexican fusion bar, a sushi house, a Korean fusion restaurant, a sports beer bar, a clothing store, a textile factory, and a burger & smokehouse. All these experiences have been crucial in the growth of Brunch at Peony.

Speaking of Brunch at Peony, it is a brunch restaurant (breakfast & lunch) where we combine the best of American cuisine with French and Spanish influences. We also offer an exceptional variety of coffees, crafted by our talented barista, Hyun Sook Jin (my wife). In the future, we are considering adding dinner service with a more Euro-Argentine approach.

Our vision is based on three fundamental pillars:

Offering innovative products while staying true to tradition.

Creating a warm, boutique-style atmosphere with friendly and empathetic service.

Fostering personal and professional growth within our team, integrating them as a family. We want every team member to have the opportunity to grow, train as a chef, and become part of the company’s development.

Looking ahead, we are planning to open a second location between 2025 and 2026. We aim to continue improving in every aspect to provide an even better experience for our beloved customers.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Humbly, I believe the three most impactful skills in my journey were:

Adaptability: Being able to quickly adjust to different situations, whether as an entrepreneur or an employee, in various geographic locations and industries.

Resilience in times of crisis: Accepting difficult moments quickly and finding a Plan B without hesitation. I have no choice: I have a child to feed.

Avoiding comparisons: Not comparing myself or my environment to others. To achieve this, I learned to be grateful for everything I have each day. This helps me avoid depression and find the strength to move forward.

As for the knowledge that has helped me the most, I would highlight:

Speaking multiple languages, like Korean, Spanish, and English (still in progress).

Having a basic understanding of chemistry, which is useful for production, storage, and handling technology that makes work easier.

Without a doubt, my greatest journey has been coming to the United States and starting a business in a completely new and unknown place, with the hope that one day I’ll complete my project.

My advice for those just starting their journey (especially thinking of my son, who is taking his first steps into society):
Don’t fear failure: Don’t let your plans remain just ideas. Make them real, try them out. In fact, failing is necessary to become stronger and more resilient in the face of challenges and threats.

Never lose your credibility: No matter the situation, always stand by your word, especially with friends and family. The day you have nothing; your credibility will be the only thing that saves you from an extreme situation.

Value your environment: Being kind to others is meaningless if you don’t start with your own family. Don’t be hypocrites—how can you say you’re a good person if you mistreat your parents, children, or partner?

Always be grateful: Even in tough moments, gratitude generates self-confidence and prevents you from falling into envy and depression.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

“Our company is finishing the first stage, where we focused on validating the business model, gaining experience, solving unforeseen issues, generating profits, improving ROI (Return on Investment), establishing a solid team, and increasing brand popularity. We aim to begin the second stage in 2026 by opening an additional location with improvements based on the insights we have gathered. However, if we find a compatible investor with favorable terms for both parties, we are prepared to open two locations instead of one. We are also open to collaborating with larger investors, which would allow us to move towards creating a franchise.”

Contact Info:

• Instagram: brunch_at_peony
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082832997117
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/brunch-at-peony-suwanee

Image Credits

Kim Hak sung (chef, owner)
Hyun Sook Jin (barista)