Men in Business: KwangJeon Lee

I’m originally from Korea and now living in Durban, running Crazy Korean. I see myself as a bridge between Korean and South African culture through food and sometimes through a bit of humour, too. What I love about Durban North is the mix of people. There’s a kind, open-minded energy here, which makes it easy to share something different.

Crazy Korean is not just a restaurant; it’s Korean food made simple for everyone. We started at markets with our Sticky Chicken and grew from there. My goal has always been to make Korean food feel easy and fun. You’ll see that in our food and also in our social media, where we share Korean culture, family moments, and sometimes a bit of “crazy” around Durban.

Challenges

The biggest hurdle is consistency across taste, service, and staff. Everything must be consistent every day. In a small business, even one small mistake affects the whole experience. At the same time, we need to keep things fresh and exciting. So it’s always a balance between discipline in the kitchen and creativity in how we connect with customers.

My business philosophy

Some people may not have tried our food before, but no one tries it just once. Food is not only about taste, but it’s also about the feeling. If customers leave a little happier, we’ve done our job. Whether it’s through flavour, service, or even a funny moment they saw online, it’s all part of the experience.

Advice

If you don’t have passion, don’t start. But if you do, start small and stay lean. Work hard, be patient, and don’t take yourself too seriously all the time. Customers enjoy real people, not perfect businesses. Passion brings people in, but consistency and discipline keep them coming back.

www.crazykorean.co.za