8282 refers to Korea’s country code +82 and winks to the cheeky usage of ‘8282’ as a cultural slang: when read together in Korean, 8282 translates to a phrase ‘빨리빨리’ that means quickly or faster : a signature Korean ‘get-it-done’ attitude.
Reflecting this energy, 8282 playfully pushes the boundaries of modern Korean culture in New York City’s bustling Lower East Side.
Since opening in 2022, 8282’s witty take on Korean cuisine and culture has received the Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2023 – 2025.
About the Founders
8282 was co-founded by husband-and-wife team, Chef Bong Le Jo and Co-founder Jee Kim, both with a storied background in the culinary arts and Korean-American cultures across NYC and Seoul. The couple previously ran the restaurant Pado in the East Village.
Chef Jo’s training is rooted in Koreatown, and refined in the kitchens of Perry St, Dovetail and Kissaki where the foundation of his approach to quality and technique at 8282 was formed. At 8282, he showcases a thoughtful balance of Korean traditions and inventive twists.
Jee, born in Seoul and educated in NYC, has extensive experience in brand development across lifestyle, fashion, and hospitality across Korea and Seoul. With an MBA from Columbia Business School, she marries her passions of business and real estate with her innate love for culinary cultures and community at 8282 as its CEO and Director of Operations.
Together, Jee and Jo welcome you to 8282 where their vision of Korea in NYC – fun yet smart, accessible but refined, unapologetic and inclusive – comes to life.