Chefs prepare for 'cooking hell' in 'Culinary Class Wars' final episodes

The last two episodes of “Culinary Class Wars” will recreate a “cooking hell,” its creatives told the press on Monday.

Producers Kim Eun-ji, left, and Kim Hak-min speak to the press during the show's press conference at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery Ambassador in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Monday. [NETFLIX KOREA]

The last two episodes of Netflix Korea's cooking survival show “Culinary Class Wars” will recreate a “cooking hell,” its creatives told the press on Monday.

“We’ve had some great moments on the show, but I personally think the upcoming episodes will come to define ‘Culinary Class Wars,'” co-producer Kim Eun-ji said.

Set for release at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, the episodes will determine the show's champion, who will win 300 million won ($223,000).

Edward Lee in Netflix Korea's "Culinary Class Wars" [NETFLIX KOREA]

“The challenges on 'Culinary Class Wars' were created after internal discussions with our staff about what defines a tasty and delicious dish,” said Kim. “And we concluded that there were many aspects. Some dishes are cheap yet delicious, like those produced in the convenience store mission. Others are mass-produced, and delicious for everyone, like the dishes in our restaurant mission. This last mission, dubbed ‘Infinite Cooking Hell’ tests the limits of the chefs. The chefs have told us that they truly tasted hell during the mission.

“Through it all, our goal is that the ultimate winner is a multifaceted chef”

The producers and top eight chefs of Netflix Korea’s “Culinary Class Wars” pose for photos during the show’s press conference at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery Ambassador in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Monday. From the left are Edward Lee, Scott Kang, Jung Ji-sun, Yoon Nam-no, Kim Hak-min, Kim Eun-ji, Jang Ho-joon, Lee Mi-ryeong, Choi Hyun-seok and Kwon Sung-jun. [NETFLIX KOREA]

Eight semifinalists were determined last week: Choi Hyun-seok, Jang Ho-joon, Jung Ji-sun, “Triple Star” Scott Kang, “Napoli Matfia” Kwon Sung-jun, Edward Lee, “Auntie Omakase #1” Lee Mi-ryeong and “Cooking Maniac” Yoon Nam-no.

“Napoli Matfia” won the latest challenge asking chefs to cook a dish that best represents them. He automatically moved up to the top 2 and was exempt from the upcoming "cooking hell" challenge.

"I was watching them do the challenge, and it was really hell. I was glad that I didn't have to participate!" he said.

Chefs Lee Young-sook, left and Jung Ji-sun in a scene of "Culinary Class Wars" [NETFLIX KOREA]

But even through the difficult missions, celebrity chef Choi Hyun-seok said he appreciated the creatives' dedication to showing the chefs' professionalism without pressuring them to be entertaining.

"[Before joining the show], the producers promised me that I would only have to focus on cooking. This Netflix show stands apart from other Korean cooking shows in the past in this way."

The entertainment was instead created in the editing room.

"The review where people said they couldn't stop themselves from clicking on the next episode is the one that makes me the happiest," said co-producer Kim Hak-min. "We extensively deliberated about where to cut off each episode!" Kim Eun-ji added.

Judge Paik Jong-won in a scene of "Culinary Class Wars" [NETFLIX KOREA]

The producers also clarified that they had no power over the show's results.

"There were just two moments that I was a little sad about, and that was during the third round when 11 White Spoon chefs and 11 Black Spoon chefs moved up, and the latest round where four White Spoon and four Black Spoon chefs moved up," said Kim Hak-min. "We never intended there to be an equal ratio of Black Spoon and White Spoon chefs. I even actually wanted there to be an imbalance between the two sides, but again, none of it was up to us. It was all left to judges Anh Sung-jae and Paik Jong-won."

The judges' sole power over the outcomes was further bolstered by Choi Hyun-seok. He said that while he respected Anh, the two had such a different approach to cooking that if he were the judge, he wouldn't have evaluated the dishes the same way Anh did.

"While Anh is an orthodox chef who seeks perfect dishes worthy of three Michelin stars, I am more of a deviant chef who creates new dishes. Initially, I felt antipathy toward chef Anh because he was so different from me. But since he's a judge, it's right to look at it from his perspective, and I do have a good relationship with him.”

Producer Kim Hak-min lastly confirmed that Paik and Anh really did eat everything.

"They suffered from being so full all the time on the show because of tasting everything, but what was truly amazing to witness was Mr. Paik eating dosirak [packed meal] off-camera, after judging!"

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]