The Nation’s Beloved Chef Under Fire
Okay, so if you’ve watched any Korean food content, you probably know Baek Jong-won. He’s like the Gordon Ramsay of Korea, but way more wholesome and friendly—everyone’s favorite foodie uncle. For years, he’s had this amazing reputation as a super smart and kind businessman helping small restaurant owners. But earlier this year, things took a sharp turn. His company, The Born Korea, got hit with a bunch of controversies, including violations of the Farmland Act and issues with country-of-origin labeling on food products. After things got heated, he even announced back in May that he was stepping away from broadcasting.
Fast forward to now, and he’s back as a judge on the Netflix hit ‘Black and White Chef 2’. Netflix decided to release the season, which was filmed during all this drama, saying that with over 100 chefs and 300 staff members involved, they wanted to let the viewers decide. They did try to soften the blow, though. His grand title was changed from ‘South Korea’s top F&B entrepreneur’ to just ‘judge’, and they’ve noticeably cut down on his jokes to make him seem more serious. The reaction online is a total mixed bag. Some people are saying, “The show is too good to skip just because of him,” while others are firmly in the “I turn off the TV when he appears” camp.
An Actor’s Drunken Mistake and Delayed Apology
Next up is Kwak Do-won, a super talented actor you might recognize from movies like ‘The Wailing’. His scandal was a bit more personal but just as serious in Korea. Back in 2022, he was arrested for drunk driving. And we’re not talking about a small mistake—his blood alcohol level was 0.158%, which is nearly double the legal limit for license cancellation here. It was a huge deal.
Because of the DUI, the release of his new crime-action series, ‘Villains’, was put on hold for over three years. The show finally dropped on the streaming service Tving a few days ago, but the rollout has been super quiet. They even removed his face from some of the promotional posters and didn’t hold a big press conference. Just a day after the show’s release, Kwak Do-won issued a formal, handwritten apology, three years after the incident. He expressed deep regret, saying he was ashamed and spent a long time reflecting on his actions.
Two Scandals, Two Different Reactions
It’s really interesting to see the different vibes around these two comebacks. For Baek Jong-won, the issue hits his public image of trust and fairness, which his entire brand was built on. For Kwak Do-won, it was a criminal act that is taken extremely seriously in Korea. Both production companies tried to manage the fallout—Netflix by leaving the ‘judgment’ to the audience and Tving by making the comeback as low-profile as possible. The public is completely divided, and these situations are sparking a huge conversation about cancel culture, forgiveness, and when (or if) a public figure deserves a second chance in the spotlight.
