born in the land of morning calm
"Crafting spirits is a dialogue between the land and the glass. We are merely the translators of this natural narrative."
Jihoon Hwang
Founder of La Calma
The Commitment
Jihoon Hwang
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
LA CALMA was founded by Jihoon Hwang, a Korean entrepreneur and brand builder whose career spans imported beverages, fine dining, Korean culinary heritage, design-led hospitality, and international brand development.
He was part of the small Korean team that brought Brooklyn Brewery into Korea and helped build the venture that became Jeju Beer. He went on to found Sushi Hoshikai, acquire and manage Gajok Hoegwan, and launch Korea’s first Tom Dixon Café under an exclusive Korean licence from the London design studio.
Across these projects, he has focused on introducing ideas and brands without stripping them of their origin, integrity, or meaning.
He is also a long-term collector of rare plants and a patron of Korean contemporary art. That same discipline—respect for provenance, patience measured in years, and trust in the hand of the maker—now shapes LA CALMA and its approach to agave spirits.
Soyon Wang
Co-Founder & Chair of the Board
A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a background in design and computing, followed by further studies in Design and Technology at Parsons in New York, Soyon Wang brings creative instinct, commercial discipline, and entrepreneurial perspective to LA CALMA.
For nearly two decades, she has led Simply Stationery, her independent stationery brand and design house. Through her involvement in her family’s long-established raw-material manufacturing and trading business, she has also expanded her experience in international commerce.
Her appreciation for tequila grew from its relationship with nature, time, tradition, design, and the skilled human hand. This affinity for its artisanal heritage, combined with her discerning palate and instinct for brand-building, shapes her role in guiding LA CALMA’s vision and direction.
Jeeho Park
Chief Operating Officer
Growing up in a family with deep love and understanding of spirits, Jeeho was introduced to the wonders of agave at a young age by his father and uncle, who was the Chairman and CEO of Jinro, the world's highest selling brand of spirits. Over the years, Jeeho developed a keen appreciation for tequila that has grown with passion.
Through a long career in finance, he spent time building, acquiring, and managing brands and companies in the Art, Luxury, F&B, Publishing, and Motorsports (F1) sectors, amongst others - where, much like tequila, nothing can replace true authenticity and quality nurtured over time.
What originally began as a hobby, Jeeho's love for the culinary arts blossomed as he earned a diplome as classically trained chef - and his dedication to the use of the best ingredients, as well as the sharing of food and drink narratives based on heritage and history, extends to the beautiful world of agave spirits.
"Together, they are building LA CALMA not simply as a commercial venture, but as the realisation of a shared dream: to pursue meaningful work, contribute responsibly to living traditions, and find a genuine sense of joy and happiness in life."
"The essence of La Calma lies in the artisanal hands that craft every drop, blending tradition with cultural narratives."
From one land of patience to another -
From the Land of Morning Calm, we look towards the lands where agave has been cultivated for generations. LA CALMA is being built as a bridge between them — independent, selective, and made for the long term.
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