Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
'Culinary Class Wars’ producers focus on cooking amid judge controversy in Season 2
Kim Hak-min, left, and Kim Eun-ji, producers of Netflix cooking show “Culinary Class Wars” Season 2, attend a press conference at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
“Culinary Class Wars,” Netflix’s hit cooking competition, returned Tuesday, with its producers stressing that the new run remains centered on the pure intensity of cooking, despite ongoing scrutiny surrounding star judge Paik Jong-won.
“We put a lot of thought into how to prepare for Season 2, especially given the immense love the first season received,” producer Kim Hak-min said during a press conference in Seoul Wednesday.
“We concluded that changing for the sake of change could be poisonous. Instead, we focused on maintaining the elements people loved while refining the flaws to create a more polished program. In a way, staying true to the original essence was a harder path than total transformation.”
Kim Eun-ji, another producer, said the positive response to the show’s debut season gave the team courage to invite culinary legends who once seemed out of reach.
“The courage we gained from Season 1 allowed us to approach masters like Ven. Seonjae and chef Hou Deok-juk. We were worried it might be an impolite request, but their swift acceptance shocked us. When the 100-chef lineup was finalized, I couldn't wait to show it to the world,” she said.
First launched in 2024, “Culinary Class Wars” became a cultural phenomenon by pitting 80 "Black Spoon" underdog chefs against 20 "White Spoon" elite masters.
The second season dropped the first three episodes on Tuesday, out of a total of 12, with 38 chefs — 19 from each group — advancing to the next round. Early episodes have immediately sparked intense interest from viewers.
A major highlight of the new run is the "Hidden White Spoon" rule, which brought back Season 1 fan favorites Choi Kang-rok and Kim Do-yun. Producer Kim Hak-min explained they were invited because viewers really wanted to see them again, while producer Kim Eun-ji added that their return was so secretive, even the chefs' families didn't know they were on the show until it aired.
The press conference also addressed issues surrounding competition judge Paik, CEO of restaurant franchise operator Theborn Korea. The judge and his company have recently faced public backlash over various franchise management issues and quality control controversies.
Paik and another judge, chef Anh Sung-jae of Mosu, did not attend the press event.
Regarding the negative public sentiment, producer Kim Hak-min said, “We take diverse feedback from viewers very seriously and heavily. While it is too early to discuss Season 3, we are keeping our eyes and ears open to public reaction as we prepare our next steps.”
From left, chefs Jung Ho-young, Ven. Seonjae, Son Jong-won and Hou Deok-juk pose during a press conference for Netflix cooking show “Culinary Class Wars” Season 2 at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
Held after the show’s premiere, the event brought together White Spoon heavyweight chefs Jung Ho-young, Ven. Seonjae, Son Jong-won and Hou Deok-juk. Joining them were four Black Spoon chefs, introduced only by their nicknames. Their backstories and identities will be revealed throughout the competition — or when they reach the final round — adding a layer of suspense to the show's evolving narrative.
Ven. Seonjae, a master of temple cuisine, described her experience as a spiritual journey.
“In this show, I met 99 visible practitioners and hundreds of invisible ones. I hope viewers see how much effort these chefs put into their food, as their cooking shapes our lives,” she said.
The 57-year veteran of Chinese cuisine, Hou Deok-juk, echoed this sentiment of humility.
“Even after 57 years, I feel like I am just beginning to learn. My happiness comes from passing what I know to the younger generation, who are like grandchildren to me,” he said.
A Black Spoon contestant nicknamed "French Papa" expressed his hope that viewers would take an interest in the personal stories of all the participating chefs.
"On set, I was so busy with preparations that I couldn't really see the White Spoon chefs. But watching the episodes yesterday and seeing so many people cheering for us and worrying about us provided great comfort," he said. "Each of the 100 chefs has their own unique story. If viewers focus on those stories, I believe the chefs will feel truly supported."