Thomas Keller

As Head Sommelier, Hak Soo Kim oversees Per Se’s wine program, nightly-changing wine pairings, and team education and reports to Beverage Director Michel Couvreux. Hak Soo joined the restaurant in 2018 and, under the tutelage of Michel, was named Assistant Head Sommelier one year later. In 2021, he assumed the role of Head Sommelier.

Hak Soo found his way into wine after a lauded career under the guidance of Plácido Domingo at the Los Angeles Opera, where he specialized in Bel Canto repertoire and performed alongside the LA Philharmonic at some of the nation’s most notable venues, including the Hollywood Bowl and the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

In 2012, Hak Soo took a position as a captain at a modern Korean restaurant, Jungsik, in Manhattan. While he initially entered the restaurant industry as a means of supporting his opera career, Hak Soo developed a passion for service and wine, eventually leading the wine program as Beverage Director. During his tenure at the restaurant, Jungsik was awarded its first and second Michelin star.

Hailing from Seoul, Korea, Hak Soo is a graduate of Northwestern University and holds a bachelor’s degree in German. His interest in enology was first piqued over a glass of Riesling he enjoyed while studying abroad in Germany. Today, Hak Soo is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers.