Korean Chef Baek Jong-won Takes on $1 Million Challenge in Lyon with Korean BBQ

Korean culinary star Baek Jong-won embarks on a daring mission to achieve $1 million in sales with Korean cuisine in France.

On the latest episode of tvN's 'World Food Challenge Baek Sa-jang 3', Baek Jong-won, along with Lee Jang-woo, John Park, Yuri, and Yoon Si-yoon, set out to conquer the French city of Lyon with their ambitious goal.

While gazing at the Lyon River, Baek expressed his apprehension, saying, "Why Lyon? I really have no confidence here," as he wiped away tears.

The production team explained, "The goal is to achieve $1 million in annual sales at the top gourmet street in Lyon." Baek was taken aback, calculating, "$1 million? That's $90,000 a month, $3,000 a day. Even in Korea, that's a super successful restaurant."

When Baek inquired about the location, the team revealed, "It's on Mercier Street, a gourmet hotspot frequented by the French, home to 38 of Lyon's hottest restaurants."

Baek explored Mercier Street and noted that 'bouchon', traditional French home-style courses, were the main offerings. Bouchon cuisine uses various parts of beef and pork, including liver, head meat, tongue, trotters, marrow, and terrine, emphasizing no waste.

Emphasizing 'approachable menus', Baek stated, "Ultimately, it's a battle of meats." He launched his venture with a Korean BBQ concept, admitting, "I'm not confident, but I'll do my best."

The following day, Lee Jang-woo, Kwon Yuri, John Park, and Yoon Si-yoon joined the team. Yoon Si-yoon shared, "Jang-woo boasts a lot. I also have basic baking skills," showing his confidence.

After much deliberation, Baek decided on pork belly for the first day's menu and conducted a taste test with a panel. However, John Park's clumsy service led to complaints about the raw onion's spiciness. Baek emphasized, "We need to provide close service and explain how to eat it. In Korea, we grill the meat for you and serve it Korean-style," demonstrating for 20 minutes, impressing everyone.

Meanwhile, Baek Jong-won received the sad news of his mother's passing on the day of the first broadcast of 'Baek Sa-jang 3'.

Reported by Kim Eun-jung, TenAsia