Netflix Star Chef Faces Backlash After Alleged Wine Deception

Daniel Kim 2026.05.23 Views

안성재./마이데일리DB

[MyDaily = Reporter Kwak Myung-dong] Chef Ahn Seong-jae — who rose to fame as a judge on Netflix’s cooking survival show ‘The Black and White Chef’ — and his fine-dining restaurant Mosu Seoul have publicly bowed to a recent controversy over an alleged wine switch. Still, critics argue the apology skimmed over concrete facts and called it a half-hearted mea culpa.

“We apologize for not giving sufficient explanation,” Mosu posts official apology

On the 23rd, Mosu wrote on its official Instagram, “During the wine-pairing service on the 19th, we failed to provide accurate guidance and caused confusion. In our subsequent responses, we also did not offer adequate explanations, and we sincerely apologize for the disappointment this caused.”

The statement went on to say that Mosu personally apologized to the customer right after the incident and that the customer accepted the apology. However, the restaurant acknowledged that, given diners’ expectations, its handling of the situation was insufficient.

Mosu added that Chef Ahn Seong-jae and the entire Mosu team take the matter extremely seriously. They pledged to review their service protocols and promised steps to prevent a recurrence. “We will not stop at a showy apology — we will rebuild trust through genuine action,” the statement said.

Netizens unmoved: “Not a mistake but deception; the response isn’t ‘Even’”

Even after the official apology, public reaction was chilly. Commenters criticized the statement for failing to acknowledge specific facts about the vintage swap and for lacking substance. Some suggested this might not be an isolated incident, asking how many other guests could have been affected. Others compared the response unfavorably to the strict standards Ahn displayed on ‘The Black and White Chef,’ calling the handling decidedly “not even (Even).”

2005 vintage served instead of 2000… Price gap: 100,000 KRW (approximately 75 USD)

An exposé post on an online community ignited the controversy. The poster, identified only as A, said they and friends ordered a menu that listed the ‘Château Léoville Barton Saint-Julien 2000’ vintage, but were instead served a 2005 vintage — roughly 100,000 KRW (approximately 75 USD) cheaper per bottle.

A said staff failed to offer a proper apology when the issue was raised and responded instead, “Then we’ll let you taste the 2000 vintage,” which only deepened their frustration.

The incident at the Michelin two-star restaurant — which charges a high-end dinner priced at 420,000 KRW (315 USD) per person — threatens to leave a stain on Chef Ahn Seong-jae’s reputation, despite his public image as a strict, fair judge.