Our Story – 우리의 이야기

Hello!  Thank you for visiting Kjota online store.

I’m Allison Kim, founder of Kjota.

I was born in Seoul and came to the United States in 1982.  I did not speak English at that time.  Like many immigrants, I faced the challenges of building a life in a completely new place.  Those experiences shaped who I am today and deepened my appreciation for the values my Korean upbringing gave me.

I love Korea. I am deeply proud to be Korean.  I feel enormously blessed to be a Korean American.

After retiring from my corporate career, I knew I wanted my next chapter to reconnect with my Korean roots.

Korea – 한국 (Hanguk) – has a history stretching back more than 5,000 years, with a culture rich in beauty, resilience, and tradition. It has been a deep source of pride for me all my life.

Then, most amazing things began happening some years ago.

People all over the world started falling in love with Korean culture.  From K-pop and K-dramas to Korean food, language, and traditions, a global community of fans began learning about Korea.  And loving it.

Watching this unfold filled me with pride, and it made me realize something special:

People weren’t just enjoying Korean culture.  They felt connected to it.

This realization inspired me to create Kjota.

The name Kjota comes from the Korean word:

좋다 (jota)

(and this is why our logo is "좋")

which means good, nice, or I like it.

Kjota literally means “I like K.” – and I think many of us do!

Kjota celebrates the fans who feel that connection to Korea.  Through simple and fun designs that I have created, I want people to proudly express their love for Korean culture in their everyday lives.

To everyone who loves any part of K-culture, I want you to know:

Korea lives in you. Make it visible.

with love and gratitude,

Allison Kim

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A Community of K-Culture Fans:

Kjota is more than a store. It’s a celebration of the people who love Korean culture.

K-fans around the world share a remarkable gift – a genuine connection to Korea and everything that makes it unique.

If you’ve ever felt your heart race when a new K-culture moment surprised you; or smiled because you understood a word, a gesture, or a song that only true fans get – you’re a part of this tribe.

Welcome to Kjota.