MasterChef Korea's cook pursues modeling

Korean American cook Austin Kang shows his dish during the episode in television cooking competition series “MasterChef Korea: Season 4” that aired from March 3rd to May 19. / Courtesy of Olive TV MasterChef Korea 4

By Kim Jae-heun

It has only been a month since Austin Kang finished in the top five in season four of MasterChef Korea, a television cooking competition that aired March 3 to May 19. Kang recently signed a contract with Cjes Model Edition to pursue a modeling and broadcasting career in Korea.

The Korean American cook was born and raised in Los Angeles, Calif., until he came to Korea three years ago. At first, Kang did not have proper cooking skills or a culinary background. In college, he worked at hotels and restaurants as a waiter and manager. But it did not pay him well and he found a job at an IT software firm called FashionGo.Net, which opened a branch office in Seoul.

Kang neither spoke Korean nor had any relatives living in Korea but decided to move here anyway. His parents were against Kang’s pursuit of a new life in Korea.

“My parents didn’t suggest me going to Korea,” said Kang during an interview with The Korea Times, June 10. “It was my choice.”

But the job was not for Kang as he failed to fulfill the six months in the IT company’s project and quit after three months. For the next three months, he traveled around Seoul, exploring the food, people and nightlife. Then, he faced family issues and could not go back to the United States.

“I was thinking of what I should do. I didn’t want to be an English teacher because everyone does it and it is not a secure job. Then I figured there weren’t many Western restaurants here. And if I become a cook, I don’t have to speak the language and it’s an active job,” said Kang.

Kang joined a Mexican restaurant called Coreanos in Apgujeong, southern Seoul, as a founding member. He helped develop an authentic Mexican menu that he learned as a child in his U.S. hometown, where more than half of the population was of Mexican descent. He found himself passionate about the job and the business went well enough to open a second branch in Itaewon, downtown Seoul. Next, Kang wanted to go into fine dining.

This time, Kang found a popular Korean chef Lee Hyung-jun in a modern French restaurant called Sous Marin in Hanam-dong, Seoul, and persuaded Lee to let Kang work under him. Kang did not ask for a big salary and promised to endure hardships in hopes that Lee could teach him quickly and push him to his limits.

“There were five kitchen staff members there and all chiefs were trained overseas in Michelin star restaurants. But I didn’t have cooking background. Lee bought my passion and I worked 16 hours a day. Lee would even call me out on my day-off to taste the dishes.

“He told me a person without any cooking background could have merit because a bad cooking habit can be an obstacle in learning,” Kang said.

Kang worked for Lee for over a year until his friend signed him up for MasterChef Korea without his knowledge. It had only been a year since the amateur cook started learning fine French dining properly and Kang thought he was not ready. But his friends persuaded him to try.

Some 9,000 people auditioned for the spot and Kang made it to the top 100. It all started without any big expectations, but Kang made it to the semifinal.

“My appearance in the show changed my life. I had cooking lessons during the show and I learned a lot from top chefs in Korea there while the pressure (in the competition) pushed my limit consistently,” said Kang.

When the show was over, Kang wanted to go back to his family, but his friend Henry of Super Junior, advised him to stay in Korea. The singer also went through the same period as Kang before he became popular, and he saw a potential in Kang to become a popular TV personality.

For now, Kang is focusing on modeling and broadcasting work as he has already modeled for a popular men’s magazine and a television commercial, which is set to air in the near future.

“Even if I cook for five and ten years, there will be a person who is better than me. These days a person cannot be doing one thing. I need to try various fields and I want to influence people.

“I learned cooking here in Korea. I am not Korean but this country gave me a turning point in my life. I want to repay back this country doing charity and event. I am so thankful,” Kang said.