Chef Anh Sung-jae posted a lengthy apology over the wine switch controversy at his Michelin 2-star restaurant Mosu Seoul, which he runs.
Anh Sung-jae said on May 6 on Instagram, a social media platform, "I once again sincerely apologize for the inadequate service at my establishment, Mosu, that left you disappointed," adding, "I want to once again deeply apologize to the customers who were particularly disappointed by this incident."
He continued, "Everything that happened at Mosu is rightfully my responsibility," but added, "It seems misunderstandings that are not factual are spreading, so I believe it is my duty to explain in detail how this happened, and I am writing this."
According to Anh Sung-jae, during wine pairing on Apr. 18, among the four customers at the time, one ordered a seven-glass pairing and the other three ordered a four-glass pairing. For the table that requested the four-glass pairing, a 2000 vintage should have been served, but a 2005 vintage was mistakenly provided, sparking controversy.
Describing the situation, Anh Sung-jae said, "The sommelier realized the incorrect service belatedly, but, without immediately informing the customer, the customer requested a photo of the wine label when a photo was being requested," adding, "Believing, incorrectly, that the correct vintage had to appear in the photo, the situation was not explained and a 2000 vintage bottle was shown."
Regarding what followed, Anh Sung-jae said, "The dining room service team concluded that this resolved the matter, and I was briefed on Apr. 21 after two days off," adding, "Even if I failed to recognize the issue at the time of service, that cannot be an excuse."
Regarding the sommelier, he explained, "Under company policy, we required a written account of the circumstances and have removed the person from the sommelier position responsible for guests' wines going forward."
Lastly, Anh Sung-jae said, "As the owner-chef bearing unlimited responsibility for Mosu, I promise thorough oversight and perfection to prevent any recurrence of incidents like this," adding, "My team and I will do our utmost with genuine dedication."