"Stop making baseless guesses about Mosu staff — it’s because of Sung Anh’s reputation" ... A defense post from a sommelier who worked at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel

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[Financial News] As controversy over the wine service at Michelin 2-Star restaurant Mosu Seoul, led by chef Sung Anh, continues to spread, a well-known sommelier in South Korea has stepped forward to defend the employee involved.
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On the 6th, Eun Dae-hwan, a former head sommelier at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, posted a message on his Social Network Service (SNS) the previous day, saying that "excessive speculation and overinterpretation are spreading," and defended the Mosu Seoul employee at the center of the dispute.
Eun wrote that Sung Anh's detailed explanation sounded similar to what he had heard unofficially, adding that he believed it was a fairly accurate account. He also said he was surprised by how far "baseless guesses" could spread.
He then expressed concern, saying he worried that the employee might be forced into a difficult decision.
Referring to his nearly 30 years of experience in the same industry, he said he had often reacted inappropriately when caught off guard and still frequently regretted not handling situations differently.
He added that, while it may be difficult to understand from a customer's point of view, such a situation can happen in service work, even if it seems absurd.
About the employee, he speculated that the pressure of working at Mosu, where the team is expected to reclaim its third star, may have added to the confusion and led to the awkward response. He said that, regardless of how large the controversy becomes, the employee is likely still feeling deeply upset.
Turning to Sung Anh, he said the reason the incident grew this large was ultimately the chef's own reputation and influence. He advised that, even if there were unfair aspects, the employee should be encouraged to regain confidence and return to service with assurance.
Eun also sent a message of support, saying he has known the Mosu manager for a long time and believes many of the rumors are untrue. He added, "I hope everyone stays strong."
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The controversy began after a post appeared on an online community on the 21st of last month, claiming that a wine switch had taken place at Mosu Seoul. The writer alleged that a 2005 vintage with a different aroma and taste had been served instead of a 2000 vintage, and questioned whether such a mistake was possible for a sommelier at a Michelin 2-Star restaurant. The two wines are reportedly more than 100,000 won apart in market price.
Although Mosu issued an apology on the 23rd of the same month, the uproar did not subside, and Sung Anh posted a lengthy apology on his SNS on the 6th.
In the statement, Sung Anh gave a detailed account of what happened based on internal CCTV footage.
According to the explanation, at a table that had ordered a four-glass wine pairing on the 18th of last month, the sommelier in charge mistakenly served the 2005 vintage of Château Léoville Barton instead of the 2000 vintage paired with a Korean beef dish, and even described it as the 2005 vintage.
After realizing the mistake, the employee did not immediately inform the customer. When asked for a photo of the wine label, he reportedly brought out a bottle of the 2000 vintage, which had not actually been served, believing the photo should show the correct vintage.
When the customer later raised the issue, the sommelier gave a false answer, saying that the 2000 vintage had been ordered by the bottle and was stored on the first floor. He also reportedly said, while pouring the newly provided 2000 vintage, that he hoped the customer could compare the 2000 and 2005 vintages because of his mistake.
Sung Anh said that a clear explanation and a sincere apology should have come first, but the apology was insufficient and the remarks were also inappropriate. He added that the company had required the sommelier to submit a written report in accordance with internal rules and had removed him from the position of handling customer wine service in the future.
Still, criticism has not eased despite the lengthy explanation.
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sms@fnnews.com Sungmin Seo Reporter