Chef Lee Dong-jun Opens Up About Family and Online Criticism on 'Ask Anything'

TV personality Seo Jang-hoon offered practical advice to Chef Lee Dong-jun, who appeared on Netflix's 'Black and White Chef 2'.

On the 357th episode of KBS Joy's 'Ask Anything', airing at 8 PM on the 23rd, French chef Lee Dong-jun, who participated in 'Black and White Chef' Season 2, makes an appearance.

Despite his usually bright image, Lee shares his concerns about receiving negative comments accusing him of seeking sympathy after showing tears on the show. He reveals, "I'm struggling with how to talk about things calmly," explaining why he sought advice from the hosts.

What are the three 'tear buttons' for Chef Lee Dong-jun?

Lee Dong-jun shares that he has three 'tear buttons'. The first is his son. He cautiously admits, "My child was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of two," and adds, "He can only speak simple words or short sentences even now."

He also mentions a period when he paused his culinary career to move to the U.S. for his child's treatment. Lee says, "It was a time when my self-esteem as a chef was quite low," and adds, "I wanted to show my child that 'Dad is a chef', which is why I accepted the offer to appear on 'Black and White Chef'."

Lee's other 'tear buttons' are his wife and parents. He expresses deep affection for his family, saying, "I'm sorry and grateful to my wife." Co-host Lee Soo-geun empathizes, saying, "Family is naturally a tear button."

"People will criticize without reason"... Seo Jang-hoon's realistic advice?

After hearing Lee's story, Seo Jang-hoon offers realistic advice about dealing with negative comments. He says, "Once you decide to appear on TV, you have to accept a certain level of negative comments," and adds, "People will criticize without reason. It will naturally subside over time."

Lee Soo-geun, recalling his own experiences with his second son who had health issues, comforts Lee by saying, "I've heard similar things. You don't need to pay any attention. There's no need to be shaken by negative comments." Lee Dong-jun is moved to tears by the support.

Finally, Seo Jang-hoon adds, "It's natural to tear up just thinking about your child's face," and advises, "While it's good to do your best for your child, I hope you can live with a bit more ease and less worry."

Meanwhile, Lee Dong-jun serves a 'Bouillabaisse' he prepared himself to the hosts. After tasting the dish, Lee Soo-geun jokes, "It tastes a bit like Jjamppong broth," while Seo Jang-hoon comments, "It's a mild seafood soup flavor that's not unfamiliar to Koreans."

Catch the full episode of 'Ask Anything' at 8 PM on the 23rd. More videos from 'Ask Anything' can also be found on major online platforms like YouTube and Facebook.

Reporter Kim Se-ah, TenAsia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr