Chef Lee Joon Opens Up About 'Black and White Chef 2' Experience and Future Aspirations

Chef Lee Joon candidly shared his experience of being cast and eventually eliminated from 'Black and White Chef 2'.

The Netflix Korea YouTube channel recently released a video titled 'Black and White After Service: Dark Chef'.

In the video, Chef Lee Joon, who appeared in the first episode of 'Black and White Chef 2', had a conversation with Kim Poong.

Lee Joon revealed that when he received the casting call for 'Black and White Chef 2', he thought, "It was bound to happen." He added, "After seeing the success of Season 1, I was expecting a call for Season 2 and was waiting for it." Reflecting on his decision to join, he mentioned, "I hesitated for quite a while, thinking I should have practiced more during that time."

Lee Joon also shared his bewilderment during the 1-on-1 battles. Regarding the blindfolded judging process, he said, "I didn't expect to be evaluated without being able to speak or see," and described it as feeling like being judged in a completely blank state.

He expressed regret that the process of deboning quail in his dish wasn't visually conveyed, but accepted the judges' critique that his seasoning was too strong, calling it "an undeniable mistake."

Particularly, he expressed mixed emotions about losing to his former student, 'The Rebellious Genius'. Lee Joon confessed, "While it's gratifying to see someone apply the skills I taught them well, on the other hand, I'm still active in the field and not yet at the age to be called a mentor, so it felt frustrating to be pushed into that role."

Furthermore, Lee Joon evaluated that this experience broadened his perspective. Looking ahead, he expressed his ambition to challenge for a Michelin 3-star rating and his desire to contribute to the operation of casual dining establishments where many people can enjoy delicious food comfortably.

Reporter Chaeryeong Lim, TenAsia syjj426@tenasia.co.kr