"Culinary Class Wars: cooking class war 2" has ended, and Paik Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea Inc., has attracted attention for his actions as a judge.
Netflix original variety show 'Culinary Class Wars: cooking class war 2 (abbreviated Culinary Class Wars 2)' was released on Oct. 13 and concluded with episode 13 (finale). With White Spoon Choi Kang-rok's final victory delivering a touching finale, the moment when Paik Jong-won and Michelin three-star chef Anh Sung-jae, who had fiercely showcased different standards in one-on-one matchups, immediately reached a unanimous decision drew attention.
From the first season, Paik Jong-won and Anh Sung-jae raised the series' tension with their differing judging standards. Paik, praised as an industry elder in the restaurant business, and Anh, a Michelin three-star chef who discerns the most refined differences, provided viewers with contrasting points of reference through their judgments.
That did not change in "Culinary Class Wars 2." In one-on-one black-and-white battles, where Black Spoon Seoul Mom and White Spoon chef Jung Ho-young faced off, the results of Paik Jong-won and Anh Sung-jae were repeatedly reversed and changed, providing thrilling momentum. This, toward the later episodes, added to the series' distinctive sense of mounting tension.
Even in the match where White Spoon Son Jong-won and Black Spoon Culinary Monster met again in a do-or-die one-on-one after the team battles, and in the infinite-cooking hell final carrot dish between White Spoon Hou Deok-juk and Black Spoon Culinary Monster that decided the last finalist, the differing results of Paik Jong-won and Anh Sung-jae repeatedly created that sense of mounting tension. Although the production's absurd editing mistake leaked a scene showing Culinary Monster's name tag bearing the real name Lee Ha-sung, the clearly different standards of the two judges made this tension possible.
But the final was different. Because the judges had shown such different standards, the winner had to be decided by a unanimous vote. The structure, in which only one winner must be chosen from 100 chefs, was designed to lend legitimacy and weight to the judges' decisions. After careful consideration, the long-standing opposing judges Paik Jong-won and Anh Sung-jae reached a unanimous decision, completing an even more dramatic victory narrative for Choi Kang-rok.
Of course, the backdrop was not entirely smooth. Before the broadcast of "Culinary Class Wars 2," allegations such as violations of origin labeling around CEO Paik Jong-won were raised, but he was ultimately cleared of charges. Despite subsequent controversy over the legitimacy of the show's judging, the production emphasized its confidence in the judges. That showed not only that existing filmed footage could not be overturned but also confidence in the experience and seniority of judge Paik Jong-won.
In the end, netizens also seem to accept the judging itself. Comments such as "aside from the controversy, the judging is acceptable" and "we acknowledge the experience of having eaten a lot of delicious food in Korea" appeared as concessions. Judge Paik Jong-won's seniority ultimately put a secure period on "Culinary Class Wars 2"'s glamorous finale.
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by Netflix.
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