"I thought they were judges, but they told me to do the challenge"… 'Heukbaek Yori-sa' Top 8 Meeting

Top 8 Contestants of Heukbaek Chef Hold Press Conference
Final Episodes 11 and 12 to be Released on the 8th

Eight chefs who survived until the later stages of the Netflix original variety show 'Heukbaek Yorisah: The Culinary Class War' (hereafter 'Heukbaek Yorisah') shared their reasons for participating and behind-the-scenes stories at a press conference. Notably, among them, Chef Choi Hyun-seok revealed that he initially thought he had been recruited as a judge, which brought laughter.

Chefs Edward Lee (from the left), Triple Star, Jung Ji-seon, Cooking Dorae, Chef Jang Ho-jun, Imokase No.1, Choi Hyun-seok, and Napoli Mafia are posing at the Netflix 'Black and White Chef: Culinary Class War' press conference held on the 7th at Hotel Naru Seoul M Gallery in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

On the 7th, the 'Taste' press conference with the TOP 8 of Netflix variety show 'Heukbaek Yorisah: The Culinary Class War' (hereafter Heukbaek Yorisah) was held at Hotel Naru in Mapo-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by directors Kim Hak-min and Kim Eun-ji, and the final top 8 contestants: white spoon chefs Edward Lee, Jang Ho-jun, Jung Ji-seon, Choi Hyun-seok, and black spoon chefs Imokase, Cooking Ddora-i, Napoli Mafia, and Triple Star.

On this day, Choi Hyun-seok said, "When I first received the offer to appear, I naturally thought I was going to be a judge," adding, "I asked why I was a challenger. PD Kim Hak-min said challengers are cooler, so I gladly accepted." He continued, "I've been cooking for 30 years, but I closed my restaurant for 45 days to focus on culinary research. I needed inspiration and new stimulation. Many around me strongly advised against participating, so I almost didn't go, but then I decided to join again." He added, "Sometimes I create dishes that are very new and different from others, which has led to criticism and harsh reviews, but through 'Heukbaek Yorisah,' I gained confidence that the path I am on is the right one. I am grateful that this program has brought attention to the Korean food industry."

Chef Choi Hyun-seok and Napoli Mafia, who appeared on Netflix's "Black and White Chef," are giving greetings at the Netflix "Black and White Chef: Culinary Class War" press conference held on the 7th at Hotel Naru Seoul M Gallery in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Choi Hyun-seok also addressed the absence of garlic in his Vongole pasta, saying, "Even though I have a lot of experience and have appeared on many shows, I get nervous every time I cook. I never imagined this would happen, but I forgot the garlic. It can't be helped." He added, "If I had done it on purpose, I wouldn't have been able to sleep for three nights. Some say that if I had added garlic, I would have won, but I didn't, and Napoli Mafia cooked better."

Jung Ji-seon, owner-chef of T&Mimi, also shared, "Honestly, when I was first offered to appear, I naturally hesitated. As an owner-chef, many employees watch me, and it’s easy to think it would be embarrassing to lose, but I thought that going and fighting hard, showing effort, would be a good example for my staff."

Edward Lee, a Korean-American chef who won 'Iron Chef America,' said, "Cooking competition shows are very tough, and I thought I would never participate again, but I was honored to be remembered for a large-scale cooking competition in Korea, so I decided to appear."

'Heukbaek Yorisah' is a 12-episode variety show that captures the competition among 100 famous chefs for the top spot. The final episodes 11 and 12 are set to be released on the 8th. The program has attracted attention for its intriguing setup where 80 'black spoon' chefs?cooking experts from humble backgrounds?and 20 'white spoon' chefs?chefs from famous restaurants or those with master titles?compete against each other. The unique personalities and stories of each challenger, the star-studded cast, and the large-scale filming have also been highlights.

In the recently released episode, 'black spoon' chef 'Napoli Mafia' (real name Kwon Seong-jun) was the first to secure a spot in the final round. The remaining seven contestants will compete in the semi-final round for the last spot in the final round. Regarding being the first to reach the final round, 'Napoli Mafia' said, "Honestly, it was a natural result," but added, "Since so many strong competitors remain, I’m not completely confident."