Culinary Class Wars Season 2: Legends, Michelin Stars, and the Shadow of Controversy

If you thought the kitchen was hot in 2024, get ready. Netflix has just served the second course of its most successful culinary reality show. As of this Tuesday, December 16, Season 2 of “Culinary Class Wars” is now available, bringing back the fierce class struggle between the established elite and hidden talents.

But this return comes with a mixed atmosphere: on one hand, a lineup of participants that surpasses the first season in prestige; on the other, a cloud of controversy surrounding one of its main judges, Paik Jong-won.

Here is the most complete report with all the details revealed at the premiere and the press conference held this Wednesday.

The Premiere of Culinary Class Wars Season 2: Format, Judges, and the Surprise “Twist”

Culinary Class Wars maintains its winning structure in Season 2: 20 renowned “White Spoon” chefs face off against 80 skilled “Black Spoon” cooks (who compete under aliases). Judges Paik Jong-won and Ahn Sung-jae return to evaluate the dishes.

As of Wednesday, December 17, Netflix has already released the first three episodes out of a total of 13, with new installments scheduled for every Tuesday.

However, there is a fundamental rule change that has left everyone in shock:

The Twist: In addition to the 80 new hopefuls, two mystery chefs who participated in Season 1 return to the competition, but this time they enter as members of the “Black Spoon” team.

Producer Kim Hak-min explained at the press conference that they decided not to drastically change the format because the first season was so beloved: “We focused on refining and building upon the elements that resonated with viewers, rather than forcing changes that could be harmful.”

Culinary class wars season 2 netflix — Jung Ho-young, Sam Kim and Raymon Kim, White Spoons Chefs, Culinary Class Wars, Netflix

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The “White Spoons” Lineup: More Stars Than Ever

If the previous season of Culinary Class Wars had high standards, this 2nd season raises the stakes with a mix of untouchable veterans, media chefs, and Michelin star owners. Here is the detailed breakdown of the confirmed elite participants:

The Michelin-Starred Masters:

Jun Lee: Founder and executive chef of Soigne (Seoul), with two Michelin stars.
Son Jong-won: A heavyweight who holds one Michelin star for each of his two restaurants: L’Amant Secret and Eatanic Garden. He is also known for the JTBC show “Please Take Care of My Refrigerator”.
Kim Hee-eun: From the restaurant Soul (one star), famous for her modern take on Korean cuisine.
Kim Geon: From the restaurant Goryori Ken (one star).

International Power:

Shim Sung-chul: Owner and chef of Kochi and Mari in New York, both awarded a Michelin star.
Jennie Wallden: Winner of “MasterChef Sweden” in 2013.

Living Legends:

Hu Deok-juk: An absolute authority on Chinese cuisine with 57 years of experience and executive chef at the Ambassador Seoul hotel.
Ven. Seonjae: The first recognized master of temple cuisine in Korea.
Park Hyo-nam: A master chef in French cuisine.
Cheon Sang-hyun: None other than the former executive chef of the presidential office at Cheong Wa Dae (the Blue House).

Familiar TV Faces:

Chefs loved by the Korean public for variety shows: Jung Ho-young, Sam Kim, and Raymon Kim.
Song Hoon: Former judge of “MasterChef Korea”.
Im Seong-geun: Winner of Season 3 of “Hansik Battle”.

Co-producer Kim Eun-ji confessed that the success of the first season gave them the courage for the casting: “In Season 1, we didn’t dare approach Chef Hu Deok-juk or the Venerable Seonjae, but this time we worked up the courage, and we were deeply grateful that they accepted so readily.”

Black spoons team menber culinary class wars 2 netflix — Black Spoons, Culinary Class Wars 2, Netflix

YOU CAN ALSO READ Culinary Class Wars 2 Confirms Premiere and a Lineup of Michelin Stars and Temple Masters

The Major Controversy: What’s Happening with Judge Paik Jong-won?

While the show celebrates gastronomy, there is tension off-screen. The CEO of Theborn Korea and main judge, Paik Jong-won, has been embroiled in a series of scandals since early 2025 that have cast doubt on his public image.

The issues cited in reports include:

Quality control issues with his “Paik Ham” canned ham products.
Alleged violation of farmland laws.
Accusations of creating an employee “blacklist.”
Errors in country-of-origin labeling for ingredients.
Claims regarding poor franchise management.

Due to this, Paik Jong-won temporarily suspended his broadcasting activities in May 2025.

The impact of this controversy was visible this week: Paik Jong-won did NOT attend the launch press conference held on Wednesday. Only the producers and eight participating chefs attended the event.

When asked about the issue, producer Kim Hak-min responded cautiously:

“There has been a great deal of feedback from viewers, and we always take it seriously and with care. (…) Since Season 2 was only released yesterday, it’s too early to discuss how, or even whether, Season 3 will move forward. Nothing has been decided yet.”

Why Watch It?

Despite the external noise, the participants view the show as an opportunity to revitalize the industry. Chef Son Jong-won commented: “I talked big and said I was confident, but in reality, I was very worried. I joined with hope that this season will help energize the food service industry, just as the first one did.”

For his part, the veteran Hu Deok-juk showed touching humility: “Being with younger chefs made me think that I can learn from them as well. Sharing what I know and nurturing the next generation is what brings me happiness.”

The table is set. Culinary Class Wars Season 2 is waiting for you on Netflix.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions about Culinary Class Wars Season 2

1. Who are the “Black Spoons” in this season of Culinary Class Wars?

Just like in the previous season, the 80 participants on the “Black Spoon” team are hidden talents or local restaurant owners who compete under aliases (nicknames) instead of their real names. Only the champion will have the right to reveal their true identity at the end of the show. The producers highlighted that many talented cooks who hesitated in the first season decided to apply for this one.

2. Who are the chefs returning from Season 1 of Culinary Class Wars?

As of the airing of the first few episodes, the mystery has been maintained under the premise that they are “two mystery chefs.” They enter as part of the Black Spoon team to try and overthrow the elite once again, adding an extra layer of difficulty for the new contestants.

3. Why are there so many famous people on the “White Spoon” team?

The concept of Culinary Class Wars is “Class vs. Class.” For the victory of an unknown (Black Spoon) to carry weight, they must defeat the best of the best. That is why the production recruited not only famous restaurant owners but also historical authorities of Korean cuisine (such as the temple food expert and the former presidential chef) and winners of international competitions like MasterChef Sweden.

White spoons vs black spoons netflix — White Spoons VS Black Spoons, Netflix

4. Will the Paik Jong-won controversy affect Culinary Class Wars?

It is the big unknown. Although the program was filmed before or during the development of some of these issues, current public perception is critical. The producers have decided to keep their eyes open to audience feedback, which could influence whether there will be a third season or if Paik Jong-won will return in the future. For now, the show is airing as planned.

5. When are the next episodes of Culinary Class Wars 2 released?

Netflix will release new episodes every Tuesday. The full schedule will cover 13 episodes in total, culminating with the grand finale in the coming weeks.