Netflix has renewed a Korean cooking competition show called “Culinary Class Wars” for a second season. The show was a huge success on the global streaming charts after its debut in September.
“Culinary Class Wars” features 100 chefs split into two teams: established chefs called “white spoons” and up-and-coming chefs called “black spoons.” The chefs compete over 12 episodes in challenging culinary rounds. Judges include star chefs from highly rated restaurants in Korea.
Contestants face tasks like creating unique restaurant concepts within 24 hours as a team. Famous chefs Ahn Sung-jae and Paik Jong-won judge the competitions. Ahn runs Mosu Seoul, Korea’s only Michelin three-star restaurant.
Ki Hwan Yoo, director of content at Netflix Korea, said “We’re excited to announce season 2.” He noted that shows of this scale require a lot of effort but the team is proud of their work.
The show was the top non-English TV program on Netflix globally for three weeks in a row. This made it the first Korean unscripted show to reach number one internationally on Netflix.
Reports show the competing chefs’ restaurants saw increased interest after the show. Some convenience stores now sell foods from the program. This demonstrates the series’ influence on Korean cuisine.
While popular, rumors of fixed results caused controversy. Co-producers denied these claims, saying hoped-for outcomes differed from actual results.
The production crew including producers Kim Hak-min and Kim Eun-ji from Studio Slam will return for season 2. They thanked fans, saying “We’re able to come back because of them.”
Netflix Korea plans to premiere one new Korean unscripted show per month through early 2025. This signals their strong commitment to the genre. Fans can look forward to more cooking battles and discovering new culinary talent when season 2 airs.
