Meet Ray Park

We recently connected with Ray Park and have shared our conversation below.

Ray, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

Resilience isn’t something I can achieve once — it’s a mindset I need to carry with me every day. I see life a lot like the weather. There are sunny days, there are rainy days, and sometimes, storms come without warning. But none of it is permanent — and none of it means something is wrong. It’s just life, unfolding the way it’s meant to. That perspective — accepting the ups and downs as a natural part of the journey — is where my resilience comes from. Whether in business or in life, I try to meet whatever comes not with panic or resistance, but with understanding. Knowing that every hard moment will pass — and that good moments, too, are gifts we shouldn’t take for granted — helps me stay grounded, no matter what season I’m standing in. Lately, I’ve also been applying a simple rule whenever I face a challenge: I ask myself, “Is this something I can control?” If the answer is no — like when a taxi suddenly cuts me off in traffic — I remind myself to let it go. There’s no point wasting energy on things outside my hands. I recently heard Mel Robbins talk about a similar idea on Oprah’s podcast, something she called the “Let Them Theory” — the idea that if people, or life, act in ways you can’t control, just let them. It’s the same with the rain. Getting upset won’t stop it. Learning to accept it makes the journey a lot lighter.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

First, I just want to say thank you for giving me the chance to share a little bit of my story.
Opportunities like this — to slow down, reflect, and put some of these thoughts into words — are rare and really meaningful to me.

I’m the founder of Ongi hospitality group and we have Red Poke and Ongi, and I am also the co-founder of Seoul Fried Chicken Co. and Common Address Coffee.
Our mission is simple: build brands that make people feel good – one smile, one meal, one warm moment at at time. Across our brands, we’ve served thousands of New Yorkers and built a loyal following that values not just food, but genuine connection.

The most exciting part of this journey is seeing something that used to just live in my head — a business idea, a feeling — actually come to life. And even more than that, watching it connect with real people.
Seeing someone smile over a meal we made, feeling that little bit of warmth reach them — that’s the part that makes everything worth it.

Our logo — the smiley face — and the name “Ongi,” which means “warmth” in Korean, are daily reminders of why we do what we do. It’s not just about food or coffee. It’s about creating small, honest moments of comfort in people’s busy lives.
As we grow, our focus remains steady: thoughtful expansion, community-first values, and continuing to turn everyday moments into something memorable.

At the end of the day, if someone walks out of one of our spots feeling even a little lighter, a little more seen, maybe even smiling without realizing it — that’s what real success looks like to me

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

If I had to pick three, I’d say purpose-driven energy, a love for growth, and self-reliance.
In the beginning, a lot of my drive came from survival — the need to stand on my own two feet financially.
But over time, that energy shifted. Now, it’s fueled more by a desire to bring ideas to life — to create things that make people’s everyday lives just a little warmer, a little lighter.
If you’re early in your journey, my advice would be: let survival push you if it needs to, but let purpose pull you when you’re ready. Purpose lasts longer.
A love for growth has been a big part of my journey.
I’m the kind of person who finds real joy in seeing small progress — even tiny steps forward.
It’s not just about work either. Even outside of what I do professionally, I’m always thinking, learning, and having conversations about how things can get better.
If you can find excitement in growth itself, not just in reaching a goal, it makes the whole journey lighter and more meaningful.
And self-reliance — that’s something that was deeply rooted in how I was raised.
In my family, we were taught not to leave debts behind. Not just financial debts, but emotional ones too.
It meant taking care of your own responsibilities quietly, doing your part without burdening others.
That mindset shaped everything for me — in business, in relationships, and in how I try to move through the world.

If I could share anything with people starting out, it’s this:

Find joy in small steps forward.
And just as important — take the time to keep asking yourself what you truly want.
It’s not something you figure out overnight.
I started seriously asking myself those questions in my early thirties, and even now, in my mid-forties, I’m still asking.
But through that process — step by step, answer by answer — you get clearer.
You start to really know what you love, what you don’t, where you’re strong, and where you’re still growing.
And that kind of self-awareness is one of the most powerful things you can have on any journey.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

If I had the choice, I’d hand off the business side to people who are better at it and spend my days with my family.
I have two young sons who are growing up faster than I could have ever imagined.
If I could, I’d travel with my family, discover new places, share great meals, and simply be present for all the small, meaningful moments.
Since becoming a father, I’ve come to realize that the ordinary days are often the most extraordinary.
Looking back, my most cherished memories are the simple trips I took with my family as a child — moments that have stayed with me throughout my life.
I want to give my sons the same gift: memories of happiness, togetherness, and a sense of belonging that they can carry with them wherever life takes them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ongihg.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hong1631/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-park-0209125a/