Corporate Governance

Mr. Chae founded Yoshiharu in 2016. Led by Mr. Chae, Yoshiharu has expanded to become a leading Japanese cuisine restaurant chain in Southern California. The root of Mr. Chae’s business knowledge comes from over two decades leading a wide array of industries including both the financial services and retail services segments. Mr. Chae has been a business executive for over 10 years, serving as the President of APIIS Financial, Inc., a financial planning and wealth management firm. Prior to APIIS Financial, Inc., Mr. Chae served as the Managing Site Partner for John Hancock from January 2002 to October 2010.

Mr. Chae immigrated from South Korea to the United States as a teenager, and diligently worked to enroll at UCLA where he studied Economics. Prior to graduation, Mr. Chae began his career at California Korea Bank, one of the first banks to service Koreans living in the United States. Mr. Chae rose to the position of Loan Adjuster before venturing out on his own as an entrepreneur. While starting his own businesses, Mr. Chae often found comfort in a warm bowl of ramen to uplift him and energize his spirit, which served as the inspiration for Yoshiharu. Mr. Chae’s background in the financial services industry provided him access to restaurants and retailers which helped him understand the restaurant industry and more importantly, the necessary foundations in building a successful restaurant business. Mr. Chae believed that there was a large addressable market for ramen, and together with his experience and passion for the business, founded Yoshiharu.

Mr. Chae was appointed to serve as director effective March 17, 2025. Mr. Chae is a distinguished architect and urban designer dedicated to shaping sustainable and innovative spaces that enhance the human experience. With a deep understanding of the interplay between space, architecture and urban environments, he has consistently delivered designs that merge aesthetic appeal with functionality. Mr. Chae is currently the CEO of Grundot, since June 2024, and was a former adjunct professor at Hongik University from 2019 through 2023. Mr. Chae is also a principal of the BS1 Fund since November 2024, which is an investment company. Mr. Chae has amassed extensive experience working with some of the world’s most renowned architectural firms, including Steven Holl Architects, Weiss/Manfredi, and Michael Maltzan Architecture, where he played a key role as a Senior Designer and Project Designer. His portfolio spans a diverse range of high-profile projects, such as the 94-unit apartment building ‘Meander’ in Helsinki, Finland, the Franklin & Marshall Fine Arts Building in Lancaster, PA, the Tulane University Dining Common in New Orleans, the master plan for the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, and the Malibu Beach House in California.

Mr. Chae holds a Master of Architecture in Urban Design from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and a Master and Bachelor of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Abe Lim, a seasoned real estate and investment professional with over 21 years of experience. With deep expertise in strategic growth, capital investment, and real estate operations, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role. As the co-founder of several successful ventures-including Circa Properties, Landmark Trust Investment Company, Mila Capital, and Camileon Investment Partners-Mr. Lim has built a reputation for visionary leadership, disciplined execution, and a strong commitment to community impact. Throughout his career, he has led with a people-first philosophy, fostering high-performing teams and developing businesses rooted in integrity and innovation. Mr. Lim has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Landmark Trust Investment Company, Inc., a real estate and finance broker, since 2010. He has also served as the Chief Executive Officer of Camileon Investment Partners, LLC since 2020 and has served as Co-founder and Co- Chief Executive Officer of Circa Properties, Inc. since 2022.

Mr. Lim holds a degree in Economics from the University of California, Irvine.

Jae-Hyo Seo served as an investigator in the South Korean prosecution from 1995 to 2009, beginning at the Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office and later working at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office. Afterward, he worked as a consultant at the law firms Dadam and Pyeongsan Law LLC from 2011 to 2020. He then, worked at the Korea Land and Geospatial Informatix Corporation.

Ms. Yeo was appointed to serve as a director effective February 4, 2022. She brings over 10 years of diverse tax, financial, and business consulting experience as a Certified Public Accountant from the state of California. She currently serves as the President of Grace Yeo & Associates, C.P.A., Inc, a full-service accounting firm based in Los Angeles. Ms. Yeo also served as a Partner at KNM Associates for over five years prior to joining Grace Yeo & Associates.

Ms. Yeo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.