SEOUL (ANN/KOREA HERALD) – “Culinary Class Wars,” a trending entertainment show in Korea, is redefining the survival competition format while showcasing the innovative recipes of the nation’s esteemed cooks and chefs.
The series features 100 contestants divided into two teams: the White Team, comprising top star chefs, and the Black Team, which includes lesser-known cooks and local restaurant owners. Participants face a series of elimination challenges, judged by renowned restaurateur Paik Jong-won and Michelin three-star chef Ahn Sung-jae.
Since its debut on September 17, the show has quickly ascended to the top of South Korea’s Netflix charts, maintaining this position for five consecutive days. It also reached the ninth spot among the most popular globally streamed TV shows on Netflix by Sunday, having previously ranked 10th on both Friday and Saturday, according to FlixPatrol.
The show’s popularity has sparked a wave of memes and parodies, with fans humorously recreating contestants’ dishes and the judges’ blind taste-testing moments. Notably, owner-chef Choi Gang-rok’s restaurant, Neo, experienced an overwhelming response, with over 20,000 reservations made within a minute of opening the booking system for next month.
What sets “Culinary Class Wars” apart is its unique take on the survival format, free from the emotional intensity often found in similar shows. Unlike other Korean survival programs that rely on contestants undermining each other, the participants here display mutual respect for one another’s skills and careers. The competition emphasizes culinary expertise as the sole criterion for progression through the elimination rounds.
Additionally, the absence of common controversies associated with survival shows enhances the viewing experience for audiences fatigued by the typical drama.
The choice to feature only two judges adds another distinctive element. Most competition shows utilise an odd number of judges for majority voting; however, with only Paik and Ahn, the two frequently present differing opinions on dishes. Their discussions foster engaging debates, providing valuable insights into their culinary philosophies.
Audiences are further captivated by the contestants’ remarkable creativity. In one challenge, participants highlight their skills using a single ingredient, resulting in visually stunning dishes, such as a YouTuber crafting ice cream with perilla oil and a star chef preparing a radish steak.
As of the latest episode, 20 contestants have been selected from a pool of 80 black team members, all vying to outshine the star chefs. With cliffhangers throughout the episodes, viewers are left eagerly anticipating the next developments.
Episodes 1-4 are now streaming on Netflix, with episodes 5-7 set to release on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
