Culinary Class Wars is one of Netflix’s newest Reality TV cooking competition shows, which has dazzled fans since airing on September 17, 2024. The high-intensity show has 12 episodes featuring fierce battles between pro and amateur chefs.
Thus far, Culinary Class Wars has redefined the bounds of gastronomy with mind-blowing dishes with ethereal presentation and flavor-bombs as required by the judges. Besides the chefs from Korea who have caught the fans’ attention - the judges have been a primary highlight.
Chefs Ahn Sung-jae and Baek Jong-won were invited to judge the competition this year. While Ahn Sung-jae is a growing prodigy in South Korean cooking, Baek Jong-won is a seasoned chef whose experience and skill remain unmatched.
Apart from his flamboyant cooking skills, Jong-won is a renowned entrepreneur. Let’s learn a little bit more about the restaurateur in detail!
Who is Baek Jong-won from Culinary Class Wars?
Also known as ‘Paik Jong-won’, the Culinary Class Wars judge is a pioneer for cooking in South Korea amassing skill and influence over the years. The 58-year-old is a resident of Chungcheongnam-do Yesan County - a serene locality located in Cheonan City. However, he currently lives in the heart of South Korea in Seoul at Seocho-dong.
Jong-won also has an impressive educational history and attended top-notch educational Institutes as a child including Geumo Elementary School, Yesan-dong Middle School, and Bangbae Middle School.
Jong-won went on to attend the prestigious Yonsei University, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Theology and Social Work. During his time in the military (mandatory for the men of South Korea), Jong-won rose to the ranks of a Lieutenant in The Republic of Korea Army.
Baek Jong-won came from humble beginnings and his passion for food, exhibiting personified yet authentic Korean cuisine propelled him to great heights in the culinary world. Jong-won is currently married to the renowned actress So Yoo-jin, whom he wed in 2013. The couple have three children: two daughters and a son.
When he isn’t producing perfection and elegance on the plate, Jong-won is an esteemed entrepreneur with several successful running businesses. He’s the CEO of The Born Korea Co. Ltd. & TMC Entertainment Co., Ltd.
Similarly, he has investments in the education sector. He’s a Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Yedeok Academy and Director of the Yechon Education and Culture Foundation.
What did Baek Jong-won do before judging Culinary Class Wars?
As mentioned, Chef Jong-won is not just a Chef, but is a prominent entrepreneur. He started his career in 1994, when he started his very first company: The Born Korea (A company he currently holds ownership over). He also had immense experience in Public Relations between 2016- 2022.
He worked as a PR Ambassador in companies like Yesan County, We Start, Korean Beef, and Handon.
He returned to his alma mater at Yonsei University to pursue the aforementioned role. Another highlight of Jong-won’s career is the time he became an Ambassador for The 16th Food Safety Day in April 2017.
What shows did Baek Jong-won appear in before Culinary Class Wars?
Before appearing on Culinary Class Wars, Baek Jong-won appeared on several cooking shows.
Here’s a complete list of all the shows Jong-Won either judged or hosted over the years:
- Baek JongWon’s Alley Restaurant
- The Backpacker Chef
- Street Food Fighter
- The Genius Paik
- Baek Jong-Won’s Top 3 Chef King
- House Cook Master Baek
- Delicious Rendezvous
- Korean Food War
- Baek Jong Won’s Class
- The Paikfather: Don’t Stop Cooking!
- My Little Television
Culinary Class Wars finale is set to air next week!
All 12 episodes including the finale can be binged on Netflix.
Keep coming back to Soapcentral to learn more about the cast of Culinary Class Wars.
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