Controversy Surrounds 'Baek Jong-won's Les Misérables' Amidst Casting Concerns

'Baek Jong-won's Les Misérables' has indirectly addressed concerns regarding the casting of juvenile offenders, stating that any participants with flaws not meeting societal standards have been filtered out. However, the show has not commented on previous allegations of gender discrimination.

On the 27th, an online press conference was held for the ENA variety show 'Baek Jong-won's Les Misérables' (hereafter referred to as 'Les Misérables'). Attendees included Baek Jong-won, chefs Kim Min-sung, David Lee, Lim Tae-hoon, Yoon Nam-no, producer Kim Jong-moo (ENA producer), main producer Han Kyung-hoon, and host Cho Chung-hyun.

'Les Misérables' is a reality show featuring 20 contestants who undergo intense Spartan-style missions to seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a life-changing experience, showcasing a grand narrative and genuine growth.

Chef Kim Min-sung shared, "I developed a stomach ulcer while working on this program. It subsided after filming ended. I even had kidney stones. That's how much dedication went into this program."

Chef Yoon Nam-no added, "'Les Misérables' was incredibly challenging. However, I couldn't sleep from happiness after filming. I felt like I was making a difference for the participants."

Despite his limited experience, Chef Yoon confessed, "Looking back, there were two people who helped me. I wanted to be that kind of support for the struggling contestants on 'Les Misérables,' which is why I decided to participate."

Baek Jong-won humorously remarked, "The four chefs did well initially, but it got tough midway. They couldn't control their emotions and sometimes threw tantrums. You'll see when the show airs." He continued, "It was hard to tell who the contestants were because the chefs were so protective of their trainees. Calming them down was challenging. Unlike other survival shows, 'Les Misérables' made me emotional during filming."

He further explained, "Most survival shows focus on selecting a winner. While 'Street Food Fighter' was fulfilling, it was hard to follow the contestants' journeys. If 'Les Misérables' proceeds as planned, it will be more rewarding than any show I've done. It can offer positive hope to socially disadvantaged individuals and burdened youth."

Baek Jong-won, who shares a close relationship with producer Han, revealed, "I suggested a filming period of at least six months." He added, "We ended up filming for over 100 days. It was truly difficult. Despite having done many programs, 'Les Misérables' was the hardest and longest. We put our all into it."

Producer Kim Jong-moo expressed gratitude, saying, "Even on days without Baek Jong-won, he would surprise us with visits, enriching the program. Although it increased production costs, the benefits far outweighed them. We're truly thankful to Baek Jong-won." Baek Jong-won humorously acknowledged, "We did spend a lot on production."

Producer Han Kyung-hoon explained, "The contestants are not skilled in cooking. Some have never used a knife. We designed various missions that could be passed by showcasing entrepreneurial skills rather than culinary expertise."

He continued, "Some contestants have led flawed lives. Those whose flaws didn't meet societal standards were filtered out. Some even left after reaching the filming site. The 20 contestants were vetted more thoroughly than in other programs," indirectly addressing the juvenile offender controversy.

'Les Misérables' is set to premiere on ENA on the 30th.

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr