Born and based in Seoul, Eva Chow grew up with a deep connection to art, studying watercolor from a young age under master artists in Korea before moving to the United States as a teenager. Her creative life has since cascaded through art, fashion, hospitality, and film, with her relationship to Korean culture remaining a constant thread. Today, she divides her time between Los Angeles and Seoul, where she founded KHEE, a premium soju brand inspired by her desire to share another side of Korean craftsmanship and culture with the world.
Her Seoul is one experienced through the senses. Food and drink become a language of connection; architecture reveals the conversation between past and present; and art extends beyond museums into fashion, design, music, and everyday life. That same spirit informs the way Chow approaches collecting and KHEE, with an instinct for detail, storytelling, and the emotional resonance of beautifully made things.
Whitewall asked Chow what inspires her in Seoul, how art shapes her everyday life, and where she would send a first-time visitor during Frieze Seoul.
Portrait of Eva Chow by Kim Hee, courtesy of Eva Chow.
Portrait of Eva Chow by Kim Hee, courtesy of Eva Chow.
WHITEWALL: Your soju brand brings together your interest in culture, hospitality, and design. What first inspired you to enter the world of soju?
EVA CHOW: I first became curious about soju when I was spending more time in Korea as an adult. I had dinner with Psy one night and tried soju for the first time. It was very different from the wine I was used to, but it made me curious about why soju was not being celebrated more outside Korea. That curiosity eventually led me to create KHEE.
“That curiosity eventually led me to create KHEE.”
Eva Chow
WW: What do you think KHEE does differently?
EC: KHEE is about showing another side of soju. We use premium rice, natural rock water, and yeast, with no artificial additives, and age the spirit in traditional Onggi clay. There is also an important distinction between traditionally distilled soju and the diluted soju that many consumers may be more familiar with. Traditionally distilled soju is made through a true distillation process, which allows the character of the rice and the craftsmanship behind the spirit to come through. I wanted to help introduce more people to this traditional style and show that soju can be appreciated as a premium spirit in its own right.
I wanted to respect the history of soju while presenting it in a way that feels relevant today. KHEE can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, in a highball, or in cocktails. I want people to see it as a premium spirit that can sit comfortably alongside vodka, gin, tequila, and other white spirits. KHEE has also been recognized in Korea, including receiving the Korean National Spirits Award Grand Prize for three consecutive years, which has been meaningful validation of our approach to traditionally distilled soju.
Between Seoul and Los Angeles
KHEE Bottle, cocktail, courtesy of Eva Chow.
KHEE Premium Soju rice fields, courtesy of Eva Chow.
WW: You’ve spent time between different cultural worlds. How has living in Seoul shaped the way you think about creativity, community, and the experience of gathering around food and drink?
EC: Growing up in Seoul and then moving to Los Angeles at a young age meant I was always moving between two cultures. That experience taught me how to adapt, but it also taught me how much I value connection. In Korea, food and drink are deeply connected to community. People gather around a table, share dishes, talk, and stay for a long time. Living in Seoul again has reminded me how powerful those simple moments can be. It is something I think about a lot with KHEE because, at the end of the day, I want the spirit to bring people together.
WW: What are some things about Seoul right now, whether in its restaurants, galleries, fashion, or nightlife, that you find especially exciting or influential?
EC: Seoul has always been exciting, but there is an incredible energy around the city right now. What I find most interesting is the way Seoul brings together the old and the new. You can visit a centuries-old palace and then walk into a very modern gallery or restaurant a few minutes later. That contrast is very Korean to me, and I find it incredibly inspiring.
“Seoul has always been exciting, but there is an incredible energy around the city right now.”
Eva Chow
A Life Shaped by Art
KHEE Premium Soju Onggi, courtesy of Eva Chow.
WW: You’re also a passionate art collector. What initially drew you to collecting, and what are you looking for when a work really resonates with you?
EC: Art has been part of my life since I was very young. I was recognized for my watercolor painting as a child, and I studied under master watercolor artists in Korea. So I learned early on to pay attention to discipline, detail, and restraint. When I collect, I am not necessarily looking for something that is fashionable or popular. I want a work that makes me feel something and that I can imagine living with for many years.
WW: Take us inside your Seoul home. What art or design objects fill the space?
EC: My home is very personal and reflects the different parts of my life. There is art, design, and pieces I have collected over many years, but I don’t like things to feel too staged. I like having objects around me that have a story or remind me of a person, place, or moment. I also spend a lot of time listening to music at home, so that is a big part of the atmosphere. For me, a home should feel comfortable and inspiring at the same time.
WW: Do you see a relationship between the way you collect art and the way you approach building your soju brand, in terms of storytelling, curation, and creating an environment around an object or experience?
EC: Absolutely. I think both are about curation and emotion. With KHEE, every detail is intentional, from the bottle and flavor to the way the spirit is presented. That same attention to detail goes into how we approach traditionally distilled soj-—respecting the craftsmanship and history while finding a way to make it feel relevant to a new generation. I want people to feel something when they experience the brand, just as I do when I discover a piece of art I love.
Seeing Seoul Through Art
KHEE portfolio, courtesy of Eva Chow.
WW: How does art show up in your everyday life in Seoul? Are there artists, galleries, exhibitions, or spaces you find yourself returning to?
EC: Art is really part of how I see the world, so I don’t always need to be inside a gallery to experience it. I find inspiration in architecture, fashion, design, music, and the people I meet. Seoul has such a dynamic gallery and museum scene, and I love seeing how quickly it is evolving. I also find inspiration in quieter moments, like looking out my window, listening to music, or walking through Seoul Forest. Sometimes those are the moments when an idea comes to me.
“Art is really part of how I see the world,”
Eva Chow
WW: For first-timers to Seoul for Frieze Seoul or otherwise, how best do you recommend them spend their morning, afternoon, and night? Where should they go or what should they do?
EC: For Frieze Seoul, I would definitely spend time exploring the galleries and museums around the fair, but also make sure to get out and experience the city. It’s a little bit out of the way, but start your morning with a walk through Seoul Forest and coffee, then explore some of Seoul’s galleries, design shops, and neighborhoods. For dinner, I would recommend a traditional Korean meal at Samwon Garden or Hansung Kalguksu, and then spend the evening exploring Seoul’s restaurants and bars. And if you have time, take a walk along the Han River—it’s one of my favorite ways to experience the city.
WW: What are you working on now/next?
EC: Right now, KHEE is my biggest focus. I am working on expanding the brand, introducing more people to traditionally distilled soju and helping consumers understand the difference between traditionally distilled and diluted soju, and developing ready-to-drink products. I am especially focused on getting the taste and packaging right because every detail matters to me.
We recently launched KHEE 16.5%, a lower-ABV soju available in the Korean market, which offers a more approachable way for people to experience the spirit. We are also developing a Premium High-End SOMAEK, called KHEE SOOOOOMAEK, which combines traditionally distilled soju with pale ale to create a more elevated take on the classic Korean combination of soju and beer.
There is also a bigger goal behind KHEE, which is to help people understand more about Korean craftsmanship and culture. I feel like we are still at the beginning of that conversation.
Seoul Insider Eva Chow’s List of Favorites:
1. Seoul Forest
Seoul Forest, Courtesy of and © 2005-2026 Agoda Company Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
A green pause within the momentum of Seoul, Seoul Forest offers a different rhythm from the city’s galleries, restaurants, and design districts. Opened in 2005, the expansive park brings together cultural and arts spaces, an ecological forest, gardens, wetlands, and riverside areas. It is a source of inspiration in quieter moments.
2. Frieze Seoul
Frieze Seoul 2025. Photo by WeCap Studio. Courtesy of Frieze.
Returning to COEX for its fifth edition from September 2–5, Frieze Seoul places Seoul firmly within the international art calendar while maintaining a strong connection to the city’s own creative ecosystem. This year brings more than 125 galleries from 30 countries, alongside programming spanning Frieze LIVE, Frieze Film, Frieze Music, talks, and citywide Neighborhood Nights.
3. Samwon Garden
Courtesy of Samwon Garden.
For a traditional Korean meal, Chow recommends Samwon Garden, a Seoul institution known for Korean barbecue and a setting designed around the experience of dining together. Its long history and emphasis on Korean culinary traditions make it a natural fit for Chow’s affection for the communal rituals surrounding food.
4. Hansung Kalguksu
Hansung Kalguksu, Seoul, photo by JK, courtesy of Culinary Backstreets.
Hansung Kalguksu offers another side of Korean dining, centered on kalguksu, the hand-cut noodle soup that gives the restaurant its name. Chow includes it among her recommendations for visitors looking to experience a more traditional meal, one that speaks to the everyday pleasures of Korean food and gathering.
5. The Han River
Han River, Seoul, Courtesy of Visit Korea.
Running through the center of Seoul, the Han River offers one of the city’s most expansive perspectives. Chow recommends ending the day with a walk along the water, where the scale of the city opens up and the pace softens. It is a fitting final note to her ideal Seoul itinerary: after art, design, food, and nightlife, there is simply the river and the city stretching out around it. It is one of the city’s most important physical landmarks.
