"A Truly Upright Person... Moved by Kangrok Choi Keeping a Promise from a Year Ago with These Shoes"

Failed to Connect During Season 1:
"I Will Purchase Personally," He Responded
Spotted Wearing the Shoes in Season 2 Broadcast:
"I Was Deeply Moved"

Chef Kangrok Choi. Netflix YouTube capture

A heartwarming story about Chef Kangrok Choi, winner of "Master Chef Korea 2" and current cast member of "Black & White Chef 2," has come to light.

On January 7, the founder of a sneaker brand, referred to as Mr. A, recalled an incident from the airing of "Black & White Chef 1" in a post on his social media account.

Mr. A said, "That was when I first learned about Chef Choi. I immediately instructed the marketing team to reach out to him. The mindset of 'You can't know a path you haven't walked' resonated with our brand philosophy, and he had a very genuine personal charm," he began.

However, the reply he received some time later was a polite refusal. Mr. A explained, "Chef Kangrok Choi said, 'Right now, I'm short-staffed at my restaurant and unfortunately can't take on other work.' At the end of his message, he also mentioned, 'I've become interested in your brand and will personally purchase a pair.'"

Although disappointed, Mr. A said he felt that Chef Choi was a truly upright person because of his courteous and positive response. He was later surprised to see Kangrok Choi actually wearing his brand's sneakers on "Black & White Chef 2."

Mr. A added, "It was something that happened more than a year ago. He wasn't obligated to keep his word, and it wasn't even a promise. It was just a casual remark, like saying, 'Let's grab a meal sometime.' But he didn't treat his words lightly and made sure to follow through. I was truly impressed and deeply moved."

Aki Classic Bumper Trainer Triple Black. Naver Store

The sneakers in question are believed to be the Bumper Trainer Triple Black from the small and medium-sized enterprise brand Aki Classic (akiiiclassic), priced at around 100,000 won. Unlike regular shoes, these functional sneakers are known for their excellent fit and cushioning, effectively reducing foot fatigue.