"Bath is Chinese cuisine, emphasized as introduced
\"Culinary exchange with neighboring countries... the healthiest\" "
Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea, who participated as a judge on the Netflix cooking variety show 'Black and White Chef: Culinary Class War,' appeared on YouTube with contestant Chef Jeong Ji-seon to clarify suspicions raised by Chinese netizens.
CEO Baek Jong-won uploaded a video titled "Jeong Ji-seon who made me kick the blanket, come here!" on his YouTube channel. The video shows the two meeting and talking about behind-the-scenes stories of the show "Black and White Chef" and Chinese cuisine. [Image source=YouTube capture]
On the 8th, CEO Baek Jong-won uploaded a video titled "Jeong Ji-seon who made me kick the blanket, come here!" on his YouTube channel. The video showed the two meeting and discussing behind-the-scenes stories of 'Black and White Chef' and Chinese cuisine.
Chef Jeong Ji-seon showcased various Chinese dishes during his appearance on 'Black and White Chef.' In particular, the dish called 'Basu' that he made early in the competition attracted attention for its flashy visuals.
However, during this process, some Chinese netizens indiscriminately criticized Chef Jeong Ji-seon and CEO Baek Jong-won, saying things like "Korea will claim Basu as Korean food" and "Korea is trying to steal Chinese food." Especially, CEO Baek was mocked as a "great thief" who "came to China to eat and then returned to Korea claiming to have developed (Chinese) food."
Regarding this, when CEO Baek Jong-won said, "I didn't think (Chef Jeong Ji-seon) would really make Basu. Less than 10% of people who like Chinese food in Korea know about it. It's called Basu because the noodles stretch when you eat it. I introduced it saying 'There is this kind of food in China,' but there was some misunderstanding this time, wasn't there?" Chef Jeong Ji-seon confessed, "That's right. I take pride in promoting (Chinese cuisine) and work hard, but people said, 'It's Chinese food but it will be transformed into Korean food.' I was greatly misunderstood."
CEO Baek Jong-won uploaded a video titled "Jeong Ji-seon Who Made Me Kick the Blanket, Come Here!" on his YouTube channel. The video shows the two meeting and talking about behind-the-scenes stories of appearing on "Black and White Chef" and Chinese cuisine. [Image source=YouTube capture]
CEO Baek Jong-won said, "I think food exchange is the healthiest exchange worldwide," and added, "As countries very close to each other like China, Japan, and Korea, how great would it be to introduce each other's food and feel close?" He continued, "We put the country's name in front, like 'Chinese chef.' Also, we use the term 'Jjajangmyeon house' (Chinese restaurant). We don't say Chinese restaurant or Chinese diner but 'Jjajangmyeon house' because many Chinese immigrants from Shandong came over, and many people lived in places selling Chinese food. 'A house where Chinese people live,' 'a house selling Chinese food'... so the term 'Jjajangmyeon house' is widely used."
Baek Jong-won emphasized, "Through 'Black and White Chef,' it would be wonderful if Chef Jeong Ji-seon is recognized worldwide as a chef who cooks Chinese food and that people around the world learn that there is such a Basu among Chinese dishes. If someone says, 'Basu was made in Korea,' that would be a big problem. That's not true. To be clear, Basu is Chinese. I spoke passionately because I thought (Chef Jeong Ji-seon) must have felt very unfair."
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