Paik Jong-won, the head of Theborn Korea, who had halted TV activities amid various controversies, will return to terrestrial variety with the program "Chef of Antarctica" after six months.
According to MBC on the 3rd, "Chef of Antarctica," featuring Paik, will premiere at 10:50 p.m. on the 17th. "Chef of Antarctica" is a "climate and environment project" that follows "Tears of Antarctica," which MBC aired in 2012. It captures the process of visiting the King Sejong Station in Antarctica and serving a meal to the crew. Along with Paik, actor Im Soo-hyang, Chae Jong-hyeop, and EXO's Suho appear. "Chef of Antarctica" was slated to air in April this year, but was pushed to May once and then postponed indefinitely.
Hwang Soon-gyu, the producer who made the program, said, "We began filming in Nov. last year and the work was already complete, with broadcast ahead. I understand that after one postponement due to external circumstances, an issue involving a cast member arose and the company deliberated deeply," adding, "The production team also recognized the matter as serious and had in-depth discussions about the program's message and direction."
He continued, "Chef of Antarctica is not a 'cooking show' in which the cast member is the main character," and said, "Because it is a climate and environment project that explores the meaning of humanity, nature, and coexistence in the extreme environment of Antarctica, we judged it important to properly deliver its essential value to viewers." He explained the decision to finalize the schedule by adding, "Keeping our promises to officials at various national research stations who cooperated for filming at the Antarctic base, as well as to the many staff and partner companies who joined the production despite the harsh conditions, was also one of the important reasons."
Hwang added, "Nov. 16 a year ago was the day the Chef of Antarctica team departed for Antarctica, and Dec. 1 is also a symbolic day when the Antarctic Treaty was signed," and said, "I hope the original message of the climate and environment project will be well conveyed to viewers at this meaningfully timed moment."