Cooking partners became direct rivals on the latest episode of Culinary Class Wars Season 2. In a shocking twist for Episode 10, the show announced a one-on-one life-or-death match where former teammates were forced to compete against each other for a spot in the Top 7. Chef Jung Ho-young faced his recent partner, Chef Sam Kim, in a tense head-to-head battle. Their challenge was complicated by a strict rule: they could only use ingredients left over from their previous team challenge. Both chefs chose to cook with brown croaker fish, leading to a direct comparison of their contrasting styles. Jung Ho-youngโs Japanese-inspired braised croaker dish ultimately won the judgesโ approval, sending him forward in the competition.
The Sudden Shift from Partners to Rivals
The episode began with a dramatic announcement that changed the entire dynamic of the competition. The host revealed the format for the second match of the fourth round, stating that each chef would face a one-on-one life-or-death match against their former teammate. Contestants reacted with shock, calling the sudden twist โunbelievableโ and โcrazyโ.
The rule added another layer of difficulty: chefs were restricted to using only the ingredients they had used in their previous collaborative battle. This meant the two competitors had to share and divide the same pool of ingredients. The winner of each match would advance to the Top 7 semifinals, while the loser would be immediately eliminated with no chance to return.
Jung Ho-young vs. Sam Kim: A Clash of Techniques
For their decisive match, both Jung Ho-young and Sam Kim selected the brown croaker as their main ingredient. Despite starting with the same core component, their culinary philosophies and final dishes were a study in contrasts. Chef Jung Ho-young decided to fully embrace Japanese cuisine, moving away from the Italian-Japanese fusion theme of the earlier team round.
โIn the first match, we had to combine Italian and Japanese cuisines. But this time, my dish will be purely Japanese,โ Chef Jung Ho-young told the cameras.
He explained his choice by noting that he and โItalianโ styles didnโt get along, so he chose to rely on his strength: braising. His goal was to elevate a classic preparation. โTruth is, Iโm great with braising,โ he said.
โI added brewed soy sauce and simmered till glossy. Thatโs when I added the burdock roots. I also cubed some tofu. And seared them with a torch. That way, theyโll be firm on the outside but tender on the insideโฆin the braise. And that way, itโs not just boring braised croaker,โ Jung Ho-young detailed his process.
He also creatively used the entire fish, asking Sam Kim for the croakerโs swim bladder, which his opponent was not planning to use. Jung modified his technique from the team round, cutting the bladder to fit more filling inside.
On the other side of the kitchen, Sam Kim took the opposite approach. He chose to recreate the dish from the team challenge but in his own distinct style, focusing more on Italian techniques. While Jung Ho-young went for a purely Japanese braise, Sam Kim prepared his croaker using an Italian poaching method. This created a direct showdown between two schools of thought, even as they started from the same point.
The Judges’ Decision and Other Match Results
After tasting both dishes, the judgesโPaik Jong-won and Ahn Sung-jaeโfound themselves split. Each judge initially gave one vote to each chef. Following a deliberation, they announced their final decision. Chef Paik Jong-won declared, โFor this one-on-one life-or-death battle, the winner is Chef Jung Ho-young.โ.
The episode featured several other high-stakes matches between former allies:
- Venerable Sunjae defeated Kim Hee-eun with a temple cuisine-inspired soy sauce and doenjang (soybean paste) bibimbap. Judge Paik Jong-won praised the dish, saying, โFor a dish that seems so simple, it gave so much happiness. Even though she had limited ingredients, I was amazed at what she could doโ.
- Veteran chef Hou Deok-juk won his match against Chun Sang-hyun with a lobster la chow mein dish.
- In another split decision, Choi Kang-rok advanced after his potato manju (a type of dumpling) was chosen over Kim Sung-woonโs crepe rolls.
The final match of the episode between Culinary Monster and star chef Son Jong-won ended on a cliffhanger. The episode concluded before the judges revealed which chefโwith dishes of crab meat dumplings versus grilled snow crab egg custardโwould win, leaving the result for the next episode.
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Chef Jung Ho-young’s Journey on Culinary Class Wars
Jung Ho-young has become a notable figure in Season 2. He has been highlighted for his knowledgeable commentary and clear explanations of other chefsโ restaurants and signature dishes, acting almost like a show commentator. This has earned him a reputation as a true food expert, or โmatsal-alโ (someone who knows taste well).
His path to the show almost didnโt happen. At a press conference for the season, Jung Ho-young revealed that he had turned down an offer to appear in Season 1.
โI regretted not joining Season 1,โ the chef admitted. He explained that after saying no, a wave of regret hit him when he saw the popularity gained by the chefs who did participate. When casting for Season 2 began, he anxiously waited for a call that didnโt come at first. โI was getting impatient, and then the contact came, so I ended up appearing,โ he shared.
He called his experience on the show โas fun, thrilling, and happy a survival show as there could beโ.
Where to Stream and What Comes Next
All episodes of Culinary Class Wars (The Black and White Chef: Culinary Class Wars) Season 2 are available for streaming globally on Netflix. The season is divided into weekly release batches. Episodes 8, 9, and 10, which include this life-or-death match round, became available on December 30, 2025. The competition continues with the next set of episodes. Episodes 11 and 12 of Culinary Class Wars Season 2 are scheduled for release on January 6, 2026. These upcoming episodes will resolve the cliffhanger between Culinary Monster and Son Jong-won and continue the journey toward crowning South Koreaโs top chef.
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