Chef Jung Ji-sun, a participant in the Netflix culinary competition series Culinary Class Wars, recently discussed her experience on the show and the accompanying appearance fees during an interview on KBS Cool FM’s Park Myung-soo’s Radio Show. On October 21, she shared her insights and revealed how being part of the competition has substantially increased foot traffic to her restaurant in Seoul, South Korea.
Initially, Chef Jung Ji-sun had turned down the opportunity to join the Netflix series due to her hectic schedule. However, she later reconsidered, realizing that participating would inspire her restaurant team.
“I originally said no because of my packed agenda, but over time I became intrigued and felt it would serve as a great motivator for my staff, so I opted to join,” she remarked.
When discussing the show’s appearance fees, she did not provide specific figures but noted that it was a standard rate. She commented,
“There’s been a lot of curiosity regarding the appearance fee for ‘Culinary Class Wars.’ It was just a basic figure.”
When asked by host Park Myung-soo if the fee fell between 1-2 million KRW, Chef Jung Ji-sun quickly refuted that statement, stating,
“It’s not even close to that amount.”
Insights into Chef Jung Ji-sun’s Journey on Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars and Its Impact
Culinary Class Wars is a competitive cooking show available on Netflix, featuring a format similar to Physical: 100, where contestants vie for the top title. The competition pits 80 Black Spoon Chefs against 20 White Spoon Chefs, all aiming to win a substantial prize of 300 million KRW.
As a White Spoon Chef, Jung Ji-sun is celebrated as the Queen of Dim Sum and has extensive knowledge of Chinese Cuisine. She is an alumna of Yangzhou University’s Culinary Arts program in China and has made significant contributions to the culinary world, including writing several books and making numerous television appearances, as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily.
She owns a Chinese eatery called Tian Mimi located in Seoul’s bustling Gangnam and Hongdae districts. Ultimately, Chef Jung Ji-sun reached the Top 8 before being eliminated from Culinary Class Wars.
During her appearance on KBS Cool FM’s Park Myung-soo’s Radio Show, she disclosed that her restaurant has seen an influx of customers, particularly from international visitors hailing from Hong Kong and Taiwan. She expressed,
“After participating in ‘Culinary Class Wars’, I’ve noticed a greater recognition from the public. It’s incredible to see my Hongdae outlet filled with customers from Taiwan and Hong Kong.”
Moreover, Chef Jung Ji-sun mentioned her ambitions to expand her restaurant chain, citing a tripling in reservations at her current locations. However, she noted challenges in recruiting new staff to facilitate this growth.
“We’ve experienced an increase in bookings by nearly threefold. The challenge lies in hiring more staff, but we plan to open new locations as soon as we have the team in place,” she explained.
In other news, Chef Jung Ji-sun recently posted a photo with actor Kim Nam-gil from Fiery Priest on her social media, teasing upcoming collaborative projects. Meanwhile, fans can continue to watch her culinary prowess in Culinary Class Wars, now streaming on Netflix.
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