Kristian Baumann is one of the most exciting chefs in Copenhagen, the chef-owner of the two-Michelin-star restaurant Koan, where he fuses his Danish upbringing with his Korean roots. Born in Korea and adopted by a Danish family, he trained in some of Copenhagen’s most influential kitchens before making his name with a deeply personal cuisine that brings Korean flavours together with Nordic ingredients and technique.
His cooking is both technically refined and emotionally driven – an exploration of identity as much as flavour – and it has quickly placed him among the leading names of the new Copenhagen dining scene.
TL;DR
- Danish chef, born in Seoul, South Korea, and adopted by a Danish family
- Trained at leading Copenhagen restaurants including Relae and Noma
- Made his name at Restaurant 108 before it closed during the pandemic
- Chef-owner of Koan, which earned two Michelin stars soon after opening in 2023
- Known for combining Korean flavours with Nordic ingredients
Kristian Baumann key facts
| Born | Seoul, South Korea (adopted by a Danish family) |
| Nationality | Danish (Korean-born) |
| Restaurant | Koan, Copenhagen |
| Michelin stars | Two at Koan |
| Style | Korean-Nordic fine dining |
From Korea to Copenhagen kitchens
Kristian Baumann was born in Seoul and adopted, together with his sister, by Danish parents, growing up in a traditional Danish household near Copenhagen. He trained at culinary school in the city and worked in several of its most respected kitchens, including an early internship at Noma and time at Relae, cooking alongside chef Christian Puglisi at Relae and Manfreds. That grounding in New Nordic cooking gave him a rigorous foundation on which he would later build something more personal.
Restaurant 108 and Koan
With support from the Noma team, Baumann created Restaurant 108, a Nordic restaurant that won acclaim before closing during the pandemic. He returned with Koan, which began as a pop-up before opening permanently in 2023 – and within weeks earned two Michelin stars, an extraordinarily fast recognition. At Koan he serves a long tasting menu in which Korean flavours and traditions meet Nordic ingredients, reflecting the two cultures that shaped him.
Signature style
Baumann’s cuisine is defined by the meeting of Korean and Nordic worlds – the fermentation, spice and depth of Korean cooking layered onto the pristine seasonal produce and technique of the Copenhagen scene. The result is personal and expressive, using food to explore his own dual heritage, and it has made Koan one of the most talked-about restaurants in Scandinavia.
Kristian Baumann in context
Baumann is part of the generation shaped by the New Nordic movement, having worked with Christian Puglisi and at the Noma of Rene Redzepi.
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Kristian Baumann FAQ
Who is Kristian Baumann?
A Copenhagen chef, born in Korea and adopted by a Danish family, who runs the two-Michelin-star restaurant Koan.
What is Koan?
His Copenhagen restaurant, which earned two Michelin stars shortly after opening in 2023.
What kind of food does he cook?
A fusion of Korean flavours and Nordic ingredients and technique.
Where did he train?
At leading Copenhagen restaurants including Noma and Relae, alongside Christian Puglisi.
What was Restaurant 108?
His earlier acclaimed Nordic restaurant, which closed during the pandemic.
