Latest news with #Paik-seokdoenjang
Malay Mail
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Celebrity chef Paik Jong-won faces firestorm of controversy — but the cameras keep rolling
SEOUL, May 1 — South Korea's culinary kingpin Paik Jong-won may be battling a storm of allegations, but his TV career isn't slowing down. The celebrity chef — known for his no-nonsense kitchen persona on Netflix's Culinary Class Wars and owner of over two dozen food franchises — is under scrutiny for everything from mislabelled food products to alleged power trips behind the scenes. The biggest fire Paik's trying to put out? Accusations that his company, Theborn Korea, violated country-of-origin labelling laws. The issue surrounds Paik-seok doenjang, a fermented soybean paste reportedly advertised as locally made but allegedly containing Chinese ingredients. That could spell serious trouble under South Korea's strict origin labelling act, with penalties of up to seven years behind bars or a 100 million won (RM302,068) fine. It doesn't end there. Theborn Korea is also accused of producing the paste in an agricultural promotion zone where imported ingredients are a big no-no. Add to that complaints over barely-there pork in its ham products and a tangerine beer that apparently forgot the tangerines, and the chef's empire is starting to feel the heat. But it's not just food scandals that have Paik on the ropes. An old YouTube video from May 2024 resurfaced recently, showing a gas canister dangerously close to a brazier in an indoor kitchen — a clear violation of safety laws that could bring another fine of up to 40 million won. The chef's conduct off the stove is also being questioned. On April 21, former TV producer Kim Jae-hwan reignited a years-old spark by accusing Paik of overstepping on the 2015 reality show My Little Television. In a YouTube video, Kim claimed Paik insisted on his own filming crew and writers, disrupting the show's creative chemistry. 'This undermines the chemistry between the producer and the filming team, which is essential to the atmosphere of the show,' Kim said. 'If the filming team is only trying to please Paik, the on-set authority naturally shifts to him.' Kim also alleged that Paik had the power to boot cast members he didn't like. 'Most stars are cautious when it comes to staff issues — but Paik was different. Once word got out that he had a close relationship with the TV executives, he got his way,' he added. Still, not everyone's backing Kim's account. Another producer from My Little Television told Hankook Ilbo that no such abuse occurred on their watch, and that Paik and the crew worked hard to make the show a success. Despite the swirling drama, Paik's face is still a fixture on screens. He's confirmed to return in the second season of Culinary Class Wars, with filming already underway. He's also slated for another round of The Genius Paik on tvN, where he takes Korean cuisine to unexpected corners of the globe. And if that's not enough, his upcoming series Chef of Antarctica is still on track for release this year.
Korea Herald
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'Culinary Class Wars' star Paik Jong-won faces mounting controversies amid business, TV uncertainty
Star entrepreneur mired in troubles ranging from abuse of power to food code violations Paik Jong-won, the star of "Culinary Class Wars" and a powerhouse in the Korean food industry, faces an uncertain future in both his business and television series, amid mounting controversies ranging from workplace abuses of power to violations of food-related regulations. Paik was recently reported to authorities for allegedly breaching country-of-origin labeling laws for food products. Specifically, Paik-seok doenjang, a soybean paste produced by Theborn Korea, was marketed as a domestically produced product despite being made with imported ingredients. Theborn Korea, Paik's food and beverages company, is also accused of violating the Farmland Act by producing Paik-seok doenjang in an agricultural promotion zone where making products with foreign raw materials is prohibited. Paik faces criticism over two other issues: low pork content in the Paik ham and insufficient tangerine content in a tangerine beer. Additionally, it was discovered that an indoor liquefied petroleum gas cylinder was being used in a space where chicken was cooked, violating safety regulations. This could lead to fines of up to 40 million won ($27,800) under the Safety Control and Business of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Act. Adding fuel to the fire, a former MBC producer recently accused Paik of abusing his power during his time on "My Little Television" by making unreasonable demands and undermining the show's production. In a YouTube video, former producer Kim Jae-hwan said, "Paik gradually began making unreasonable demands on the broadcasting company, insisting that only his designated writers and filming teams be included in the program. This undermines the chemistry between the producer and the filming team, which is essential to the atmosphere of the show. If the filming team is only trying to please Paik, the on-set authority naturally shifts to him." Kim further alleged that Paik pushed out cast members he disliked, with producers having to personally apologize to those who were removed. However, a director who previously worked with Paik downplayed the claims, telling local media outlet the Korea Economic Daily that no misconduct had occurred during their collaboration. Despite the mounting controversies, Paik remains a fixture in the Korean entertainment landscape, with multiple projects in the works. He is scheduled to appear in the second season of Netflix's "Culinary Class Wars," with filming reportedly already underway. Netflix declined to comment on his involvement amid the ongoing controversies. Additionally, Paik is set to appear in the third season of tvN's "The Genius Paik," a reality series where he runs a restaurant in a region where Korean cuisine is virtually unknown. An online post Sunday pointed to Paik filming the new season in France, with a photo of him slicing meat in the kitchen and the "The Genius Paik" logo faintly visible on his uniform. As of press time, tvN has not commented on his participation in the program. Meanwhile, MBC announced on April 14 that it would delay the airing of "Chef of Antarctica," a show featuring Paik preparing meals for members of an Antarctic overwintering team. Although filming wrapped at the end of last year and the show was initially set to air this month, MBC cited schedule adjustments due to special news broadcasts and the early presidential election season as reasons for the delay. The network denied speculation that the delay was connected to Paik's ongoing troubles.
