Born and raised in Seoul, Minhyuk is no stranger to the balance of hard work and letting loose. By the time he graduated Pyohyeon University, he had fallen in love with the city with no desire to return home. Fast forward a couple of years, he now owns and frequents “Cheers” (건배), a bar and grill in the Geunmin District. Each day brings new customers and new experiences; there’s never a dull moment in Pyohyeon.

History

Minhyuk had a fairly normal childhood, raised by his two loving parents and his two older sisters. His family is close knit so he never lacked in the affection department; unless you consider his oldest sister stealing his chocopie from his lunch bag as an abusive relationship. One could classify them as the lower-end of middle class, but Minhyuk never saw his family as less fortunate. It had never occurred to him that his families earnings would define the way others percieved and treated him. Then again, raised in a healthy household like his own, you don’t quite understand how cruel people can be until you reach secondary school.

His mom worked odd jobs during the holiday season when the budget would tighten, and this year she so happened to work a custodial position at the transit station. As his classmates caught on, he found himself isolated and taunted, some students going so far as to trash his locker and trip him in the hallways. They called his family worthless and ridiculed him relentlessly. It was during this time that his light began to diminish and his once bright smile felt disingenuous.

He pushed through this self-doubt, however, finding strength in his pain and frustration to prove his worth to himself and his peers. Through a school funded scholarship, he was able to travel to California for a year as an exchange student. It was there that he rekindled the passion within him and developed an obsession for culinary arts. In awe of the variety of classes offered as electives at his host high school, he randomly chose home economics, and the rest was history. He discovered his affinity for baking and ran with it like an unasuming child with a knife. Of course, this led to his host brother Kai involuntarily becoming his sous chef as needed for bake sales and birthdays, but Minhyuk knew he secretly enjoyed it.

Upon his return to Seoul, his family in full support of his dream, he graduated and pursued his culinary degree at Pyohyeon University. Now, surrounded by like minded people pursuing a similar goal, his social circle broadened and drinking habits ensued. Nevertheless, he remained an exemplary student and graduated with flying colors, much to his friends’ surprise.

His life comes to a halt just out of University, working a full-time baking job at a local café for several months while applying tirelessly to restaurant after restaurant as a pastry chef. Much to his dismay, most establishments are exclusively looking for chefs with experience, in which apparently a 4-year degree does not qualify. Weeks turned into months and just as his light had begun to diminish once again, he sought solace in a pair of brown orbs as deep as the atlantic; a frequent customer of his. Yes, their first meeting was not the most graceful in terms of love stories, but the more Hyungwon persisted the more Minhyuk knew there was no fighting the desire he harbored for the older male.

Time rushed on and their relationship flourished into a budding love, as did his career. Motivated now more than ever, Minhyuk puts his heart, soul, and all of his bakery earnings into his own business. Screw waiting around for a position to open up or experience to present itself, if he was going to be a chef it would have to be at his own restaurant. So, fast forward a year later and his baby is open for business under the name “cheers”, a traditional style bar and grill with a modern aesthetic.

( Made with Carrd )