Baek Jong-won, harsh remarks on cooking competition

Baek Jong-won revealed his insight as a restaurant businessman.

On the 27th, a video titled '[Baek Jong-won Becomes Mayor Episode 11] How much prize money was at the Three Kingdoms Festival Cooking Competition?' was posted on Baek Jong-won's YouTube channel 'Baek Jong-won PAIK JONG WON'.

Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea, worked with Yesan-gun to create a cooking competition at the Three Kingdoms Festival. On the day of the competition, Baek Jong-won expressed his expectations, saying, "Yesan Global Food Championship. More participants than expected applied. Depending on the region, preliminary rounds were also held."

In August 2022, two months before the competition, Baek Jong-won entered into a meeting with competition officials. Baek Jong-won said, "This is a one-time cooking competition. What is the purpose of this?" He added, "Isn't Yesan's greed to build a reputation? After 5 to 10 years, he will ask, 'Did you win that award?' “Isn't it supposed to be like this? That's the purpose,” he pointed out. The grand prize for the competition was the 'Prime Minister of Yesan County'. Baek Jong-won sharply pointed out, "A person who studies cooking entered a competition and won first place, but the grand prize was the Yesan County Governor's Award. Is there any meaning? Who prepares for this to such an extent?" He then emphasized, "Perks are not important. Rather, the prize money should be large. You should bet 10 million won for first place." Accordingly, the first place prize money was decided at 10 million won, and the total prize money was 18.4 million won.

Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr