Chef Kim Sung-woon Reveals the Story Behind His Iconic Long Hair

Chef Kim Sung-woon shares the story behind his trademark long hairstyle.

Recently, at Table Four Four in Hannam-dong, Seoul, we met with Chef Kim Sung-woon, who participated in Netflix's 'Black and White Chef 2'.

Chef Kim was a contestant in 'Black and White Chef 2', finishing in a tie for 8th place. He leads the Italian restaurant 'Table Four Four' and the Korean pub 'Pocha Four Four', showcasing his identity as a 'Taean person' through dishes using seasonal seafood and local ingredients from Taean. On the show, Chef Kim focused on local ingredients and authentic flavors, bringing a genuine touch to the program's reality.

Chef Kim's long hairstyle left a strong impression on viewers of 'Black and White Chef 2'. However, this hairstyle wasn't a deliberate concept. He explained, "I used to live in Seorae Village, where I had a barber for over six years. But after moving to Oksu-dong, I lost contact with him." He added, "I have a bit of an obsessive nature, so once I find a place I like, I stick to it. I always went to the same person for haircuts, the same restaurant for meals, and the same place for jokbal."

It turns out the long hair was a result of not finding a new salon. Chef Kim admitted, "I was afraid of going to a different salon. If they cut my hair badly, it would stress me out," he laughed.

Eventually, Chef Kim found a salon near his home. He said, "I went to a salon in front of my house in Oksu-dong. I asked for a short cut, but the stylist suggested I try growing it out, saying the current style looked good."

Chef Kim confessed, "Honestly, drying my hair is a hassle. For me, the time spent drying my hair feels like a luxury. Most chefs have short hair to quickly shampoo and get to work. When I lived in Seorae Village, I could wash my hair in three minutes. I didn't want to waste time commuting, so I lived above my restaurant." However, he noted, "These days, I have to maintain this style due to various appearances, but I plan to cut it when summer comes."

By Ji-won Kim, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr