Netflix’s "Culinary Class Wars 2" winner Choi Kang-rok says he’s in no rush to jump back into the restaurant game.
Speaking at a winner’s interview held in Seoul’s Samcheong-dong on the 16th, Choi explained why he closed his place after Season 1: “The lease was up, so I shut it down. Season 1 did great, and lots of guests came in with high expectations. Thankfully, I had a clean exit when the contract ended, so it felt natural to close.”
It was a surprising move at the time―most chefs rode the Season 1 heat by raising prices or opening second locations. Choi did the opposite, earning comments that he “dropped the oar just as the tide came in.” For him, the choice was intentional: a pause he felt he needed.
After stepping away from the spotlight, Choi resurfaced in December 2024 on JTBC’s cooking variety show "Chef & My Fridge", drawing fresh buzz. “That show was my training ground,” he said with a laugh. “It let me experience defeat. Under that 15-minute pressure, you have to keep inventing. I got stronger because of it―even if I lost every time.”
The reset seems to have paid off. Returning for "Culinary Class Wars 2," he rebounded from an early Season 1 exit to claim the crown. But even with the win―and a new wave of public support―he’s not racing to reopen. “I don’t think I should do it right away,” he admitted. “It’s scary. People walk into a restaurant with expectations. I don’t want to mess with those good memories. I think it’s better to step back for a bit.” Still, he was clear: “I’m not putting the knife down.” With his web variety series "Food Otaku" currently airing, he appears set to focus on culinary shows for now.
As for the long game, Choi has a quieter dream in mind. “When I’m older, I’d like to open a small restaurant,” he said, adding that his 300 million won prize is earmarked for a noodle shop someday.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)