Lim Seong-keun, the culinary technician of 'Culinary Class Wars: Culinary Class Wars 2', turned Netflix into 6 O'Clock My Hometown.
On the 10th Netflix Korea posted a video titled "Visited Mangwon Market with Im Jjang" on its official YouTube channel.
The released video shows Chef Im Seong-keun, who appears as a White Spoon on the recently popular Netflix original variety show 'Culinary Class Wars: Culinary Class Wars 2 (abbreviated Culinary Class Wars 2)', visiting Seoul's Mangwon Market with the Netflix Korea production team. From the start, laughter arose at the sight of him striding through the market wielding a selfie camera like a weapon, ignoring usual broadcast shooting methods, angles, focus, and perspective.
Chef Im Seong-keun is drawing admiration on 'Culinary Class Wars 2' not only for his outstanding culinary skills but also for his incomparable fast cooking speed, and nonetheless excellent taste and dishes that preserve the essence of Korean cuisine. Though far from the refined manner and speech of fine-dining chefs who have earned Michelin stars, his warm, familiar tone and uninhibited manner recall middle-aged fathers, earning praise. Riding that popularity, he is winning fans to the point of earning nicknames from his YouTube channel name "Im Jjang" to "Tetonam", "Ajae Maengsu", and "Oh Man Sauce Lord", among others.
In particular, he attracted attention on 'Culinary Class Wars 2' by captivating judges such as Paik Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea Inc., and Michelin three-star chef Anh Sung-jae with a somewhat common-seeming menu of galbi. In response, Chef Im Seong-keun said, "Aren't I a self-proclaimed meat expert?" and visited a butcher shop in Mangwon Market to reveal ways to identify good pork.
Chef Im Seong-keun also introduced a recipe: "Pork should not be black. It should have a bright red hue. Put fresh spare ribs with aged kimchi and simmer for about 40 minutes, then mash and add things like beans or tofu at the end for a nuttier flavor." This was also a departure from the sensuous-toned content Netflix Korea usually presents.
Comments such as "Netflix smells like Altoran" and "I thought I was watching 6 O'Clock My Hometown, not Netflix" even appeared. However, KBS 1TV's 6 O'Clock My Hometown and MBN's Altoran are representative programs supported by viewers in the middle-aged and older demographic. The jokes and praise poured in saying Chef Im Seong-keun's hearty tone and hosting style turned Netflix into content for middle-aged viewers.
Meanwhile, Chef Im Seong-keun revealed the behind-the-scenes story of being cast in 'Culinary Class Wars 2'. He said, "Actually I was approached during season 1. But I was so busy with company work that although I agreed to appear I couldn't make it. I regretted that I couldn't show more Korean cuisine to the world. Then I was approached again for season 2 and I participated because I wanted to introduce more Korean dishes overseas through Netflix."
Buoyed by the support he actively communicates on social media: "I have an Instagram and I'm still learning. It's so fun. The important thing is I reply to comments and if I can't reply I at least 'like' them. I do this because I feel my heart is reaching our Omandong-i (fan nickname)," he said with a smile, adding, "I've heard nicknames like 'Tetonam' and 'Ajae Maengsu' a few times. People say my tone is originally strong so it's scary, but that's not true. Among them I think 'Tetonam' is the best. It's my personality."
Above all, regarding reactions that say they feel a father-like familiarity toward him, he laughed, "Korea's dads all feel the same way. When moms scold at home, when daughters say something they get discouraged. If dads did even half of what moms do to them they'd be incredibly happy." In the friendly atmosphere, the Netflix Korea production team even gifted Chef Im Seong-keun a new pair of glasses that looked "real" to ease concerns about an image like a 'fake'. Even wearing clear-lens glasses, Chef Im Seong-keun, pleased, made a finger-heart, evoking the simple joy of a middle-aged father happy with a child's gift and delivering both warmth and amusement.
[Photo] Provided by Netflix, source YouTube.
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