Chef Jeong Ji-seon Opens Up About Miscarriage After 'Black and White Chef' Filming

Chef Jeong Ji-seon has revealed that she suffered a miscarriage after filming 'Black and White Chef.'

On the Channel A show 'Best Friends Documentary - Table for Four' (hereafter 'Table for Four'), which aired on the 4th, Chef Jeong Ji-seon appeared and invited her close friends, Chef Jung Jun-ha, Chef Yeo Kyung-rae, and singer Byul.

During the episode, Jeong Ji-seon shared her struggles as a female chef, recounting her challenging experience in the closed kitchen culture during her studies in China. Despite completing her studies, she faced difficulties finding employment simply because she was a woman. She explained that she was often rejected without her resume being reviewed. Thanks to Chef Yeo Kyung-rae's recommendation, she was able to secure her first job as a hotel chef.

However, Jeong Ji-seon revealed that she eventually resigned due to severe discrimination and disregard, with comments like, "Once you get married and have kids, it's over, so why cook?" She also shared a harrowing experience where her finger was caught in a noodle-making machine, requiring 30 stitches. She felt more guilt than pain and feared being fired if her recovery took too long.

Jeong Ji-seon confessed that she hid her first pregnancy during her 12th year as a chef, even competing in cooking contests until she was four months pregnant. She feared being fired if her colleagues found out about her pregnancy. She recalled enduring morning sickness by eating raw rice, ice, white rice, and seaweed, saying she couldn't do it now.

She also shared the heartbreaking news of her miscarriage. After filming 'Black and White Chef' in March, she became pregnant with her second child but miscarried at nine weeks in May. "My family was so hopeful since it was a child we had waited 10 years for, and I felt so sorry," she said. "I thought I was healthy, but maybe the child was weak because I conceived after 40."

Jeong Ji-seon continued, "I was deeply shocked by the miscarriage, but I was so busy that I had surgery two days later. My husband expressed disappointment, saying he had been hopeful, but I never heard him say it was okay. My son wept bitterly, and it broke my heart," she said, shedding tears. "I felt like a criminal for not being able to protect my child."

Reporter Taeyuna, TenAsia youyou@tenasia.co.kr