"I Changed the Channel Because It All Sounded Like Lies"... Paik Jong-won's Return to 'Chef of Antarctica' Met with Cold Reactions

[Financial News] Paik Jong-won, CEO of The BORN Korea, returned to television through Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)'s 'Chef of Antarctica' six months after announcing a suspension of his broadcasting activities due to various controversies.

Although Paik stated that his return to television was driven by a "sense of duty," public response has been chilly. While many are relieved that he is no longer facing legal risks, some viewers now see his former image as a young entrepreneur and positive entertainer as nothing but a façade.
Numerous posts about Paik Jong-won's variety show filming have appeared on various social media platforms and online communities.
Netizens commented, "He's just a businessman, not a chef," "How can he be called the Chef of Antarctica when he's not even a chef?" "Everything from his tone to his expressions sounded like lies, so I changed the channel," "Is he trying to win public favor by filming a variety show before 'Black and White Chef 2' airs?" "He's just trying to clean up his image," "He should apologize to franchise owners and the public and take time for self-reflection," and "If he truly understands his mistakes, he should have taken more time off or avoided filming variety shows altogether."
'Chef of Antarctica' follows Paik Jong-won, actress Im Soo-hyang, actor Chae Jong-hyeop, and singer Suho as they prepare warm meals for overwintering crew members isolated in the harsh Antarctic environment. Filming wrapped up late last year, and the show was initially scheduled to air in April but was postponed once.
In the first episode, which aired on the 17th, Paik Jong-won and his team entered King Sejong Station in Antarctica as 'honorary crew members.'
In a pre-interview with the production team, Paik said, "The climate is truly serious right now. I was shocked this summer," adding, "Isn't Antarctica the starting point of climate change? The people here are enduring great hardships to conduct research."
He continued, "I wondered what I could do for the crew. If there's something I can do, I should do it. It's a bit of a sense of duty."
One netizen pointed out, "King Sejong Station survives on ingredients supplied only once a year, and by the time the cast joined, most of the food supplies were already depleted. Skilled chefs are already providing high-quality meals to the crew, so I don't see why the cast needed to visit without any ingredients." Another commented, "It's not 'Chef of Antarctica,' it's 'Thief of Antarctica.'"
Previously, the National Franchisee Association, Yeondon Bowl Katsu Franchisees Association, Korea Franchise Transaction Association, and People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) raised concerns about Paik Jong-won's return to television. On the 11th, they held a protest in front of the new MBC headquarters in Mapo-gu, Seoul, demanding the postponement of the variety show's broadcast and the removal of his scenes.
In response, The BORN Korea stated, "We have taken a conservative approach to minimize harm to franchisees, but we can no longer remain silent in the face of an organized campaign to destroy the company, orchestrated by NFAK, some franchisees, and closely associated YouTubers."

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