"What is this? Ugh?"... Store Owners Rowing Against the Tide Amid 'Blindfolded Baek Jong-won' Popularity

Marketing Photos Using Black Plastic Bags Uploaded
Headquarters Actively Uses Meme Spread for Marketing 'Eye-Catching'

Netflix variety show 'Black and White Chef: Culinary Class War' continues to enjoy popularity even after its finale, and a scene featuring Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea, wearing an eye patch has caught attention as The Born Korea franchise stores have independently parodied it for marketing purposes. On the 17th, Baekdabang's official Instagram posted an image of CEO Baek wearing a black eye patch while introducing a new product.

Store owners of Theborn Korea franchises operated by CEO Baek also actively used the 'eye mask meme.' Recently, various online communities and social networking services (SNS) have posted photos showing black plastic bags used over CEO Baek's eyes on the signboard of 'Yeokjeon Udon,' one of Baek's franchises.
[Photo by Online Community]

In CEO Baek's speech bubble, there is a parody of a line from the blind judging scene in Black and White Chef: "What is this... Uh? Oh?" Earlier, in Black and White Chef, the scene where CEO Baek wore an eye patch to ensure fair blind judging while tasting food amused viewers and became a meme (internet trend).

Franchise store owners under The Born Korea, operated by CEO Baek, have actively utilized the 'eye patch meme.' Recently, various online communities and social networking services (SNS) have shared photos of CEO Baek's image on the signboard of 'Yeokjeon Udon,' one of his franchises, with a black plastic bag used as an eye patch over his eyes.

The popularity of the Netflix variety show "Black and White Chef: Culinary Class War" continues even after its finale, and a scene featuring Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea, wearing an eye patch has caught attention as The Born Korea franchise stores have independently parodied it for marketing purposes.
[Photo by Baekdabang Instagram]

One netizen posted a photo of CEO Baek on a Yeokjeon Udon franchise signboard wearing an eye patch made from a black plastic bag, saying, "A chain store marketing by an acquaintance. Apparently, the headquarters called eventually." The netizen added, "The headquarters called and asked them to please take it down," then later said, "The headquarters called again and said to just do whatever they want. They probably thought it was funny after all."

Another Yeokjeon Udon branch also attracted attention by placing a plastic bag eye patch on CEO Baek's photo in their window display. Besides this, other companies have quickly jumped on the Black and White Chef craze and are using it for marketing. Netizens who saw this responded with comments such as "Like owner, like CEO," "It's impressive to use that for marketing," and "I don't know who started it, but really good sense."