Chef David Lee, known as the 'Meat Bully,' shared his struggles while living in the United States.
On the October 16th episode of KBS2TV's 'The Boss Has Donkey Ears,' David Lee discussed past hardships with his staff at his restaurant.
When asked by an employee if he had faced difficulties in New York, David Lee admitted, "The cultural differences were significant, and looking back, the racial discrimination I faced is something I can only laugh about now, but it was deeply hurtful at the time."
He continued, "I was a sous chef in a kitchen where I was treated as an outsider. They didn't give me work because I was different and didn't spend time with them."
Ultimately, David Lee left the restaurant, expressing his frustration, "I left in tears, feeling so wronged."
David Lee revealed that he overcame these experiences through his passion for cooking. He explained, "I had a list of over 20-30 tasks that seemed impossible to complete in time. So, even though my shift started at 1 PM, I would arrive at 6:30 AM. I asked the sous chef if there was anything I could help with, gradually taking on more roles. The sous chef provided one-on-one training."
As a result, the colleague who once bullied him eventually approached him, saying, "I saw your genuine passion for cooking and wanted to become friends." Today, that colleague is one of David Lee's closest friends, bringing a heartwarming end to the story.
Reported by Na-yeon Cho, TenAsia nybluebook@tenasia.co.kr