The second season of Netflix’s hit cooking competition “Culinary Class Wars“ is now streaming, but the spotlight isn’t just on the food. The show has returned while its famous judge, Paik Jong-won, is involved in several ongoing public controversies related to his business and past television work. These issues have led to mixed reactions from viewers and kept the show’s producers in a careful position as the new season unfolds.
Paik, a well-known restaurateur and TV personality, did not attend the show’s press conference on December 17, an absence seen by many as a direct response to the scrutiny he is under. Fellow judge Ahn Sung-jae was also absent from the event. Despite this, both judges appear in the new season, which was filmed before the controversies reached their peak. With the show already a major global hit, its return has become a focal point for discussions about accountability and entertainment.
What Are the Controversies Surrounding Judge Paik Jong-won?
The issues surrounding Paik Jong-won are complex, involving allegations about his conduct in television production and legal problems connected to his company, TheBorn Korea.
One major allegation comes from former MBC producer Kim Jae-hwan. In early 2025, he publicly claimed that Paik misused his influence during the production of the 2015 variety show My Little Television. Kim alleged that Paik made excessive demands, including insisting on working only with writers and production staff he personally chose. He also claimed Paik was involved in casting decisions, which sometimes forced other producers to apologize. However, another producer from the same show offered a different perspective, stating that Paik worked professionally with staff he met for the first time and was dedicated to the show’s success.
The more serious legal controversies involve TheBorn Korea, Paik’s restaurant franchise company. The company faced investigations for allegedly violating country-of-origin labeling laws. A specific product, a soybean paste, was marketed as being made with domestic ingredients, but authorities looked into claims it contained imported fermented paste from China. There were additional questions about whether the paste was produced in an agricultural zone where using foreign raw materials is not allowed.
While police decided there was not enough evidence to charge Paik personally over the labeling issues, TheBorn Korea and two of its executives were indicted. Following these events, Paik apologized to shareholders at the company’s annual meeting in March 2025, acknowledging a failure in management and promising to rebuild trust through better systems.
How Did the Show’s Producers Respond?
At the December 17 press conference for Season 2, producers directly addressed the elephant in the room. With Paik absent, the focus shifted to how the production team was handling viewer concerns.
Producer Kim Hak-min stated the team is acutely aware of the audience’s divided opinions. “We’re hearing a lot of feedback from viewers—wide-ranging and plentiful—and we’re taking it very seriously and carefully,” he told reporters. He emphasized that for now, the team is listening and will consider this feedback in any future planning.
When asked about Paik’s potential role in a possible third season, Kim was cautious, noting it was too early to discuss. “Season 2 was only released yesterday, so it’s too early to discuss how, or even whether, Season 3 will move forward,” he said. His comments indicate that viewer reaction to Season 2 may directly influence future decisions about the judging panel.
What’s New in Culinary Class Wars Season 2?
Despite the off-screen debates, Season 2 promises intense culinary battles with notable updates to the format.
The core structure remains: 80 “Black Spoon” underdog chefs face off against 20 elite “White Spoon” star chefs. The first three episodes, which debuted on December 16, covered the initial elimination round, advancing 38 chefs (19 from each team) to the next stage.
A major new twist is the introduction of “Hidden White Spoons.” Two popular chefs from Season 1, Choi Kang-rok and Kim Do-yun, return to compete incognito as part of the Black Spoon team. They must impress the judges to survive the first elimination just like the newcomers. Producer Kim Eun-ji revealed the secrecy was so strict that even the chefs’ families didn’t know they were filming until the show aired.
The White Spoon team this season is a legendary lineup, including:
- Son Jong-won: The only chef in South Korea operating two different one-Michelin-star restaurants simultaneously (one French, one Korean).
- Lee Jun: Chef-owner of the two-Michelin-star restaurant Soigné.
- Hu Deok-juk: A 57-year master of Chinese cuisine, referred to as a “legend” on the show.
- Park Hyo-nam: A pioneer of French cuisine in Korea with 47 years of experience.
- Venerable Seonjae: Korea’s first certified master of temple cuisine.
The producers explained that the success of Season 1 gave them the confidence to invite these culinary icons, who they previously thought were out of reach.
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Where Do Viewers Stand?
Online reactions to Paik Jong-won’s continued role as a judge are split. Some viewers praise his entertaining and knowledgeable critiques, which have been a staple of the show’s appeal. Others express skepticism, finding it difficult to trust his evaluations in light of the real-world controversies about food labeling and business ethics. This division is a key issue Netflix and the producers are monitoring as the season progresses.
The situation is complicated by the fact that filming for Season 2 was completed before Paik’s controversies became a major public discussion, making last-minute changes impossible. The producers have chosen to move forward with the season as planned, focusing on the culinary drama while acknowledging the audience’s concerns.
“Culinary Class Wars” Season 2 is streaming on Netflix, with new episodes released every Tuesday. The season will run for a total of 13 episodes.
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