Behind the Scenes of ‘Culinary Class Wars’: Chef Ahn Sung Jae on Weight Loss, Respect, and Rivalry

Chef Ahn Sung Jae, known for his role on the Netflix series Culinary Class Wars, candidly assessed his chemistry with fellow judge Paik Jong Won. He stated, “We didn’t quite click,” but noted that he developed a sense of respect for Paik as they navigated their differences.

Ahn Sung Jae appeared as a guest on JTBC’s Newsroom, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from his experience on the show. As the owner-chef of Mosu, the only Michelin three-star restaurant in South Korea, he has recently garnered widespread acclaim for his role as a judge.

During his time on Culinary Class Wars, Ahn Sung Jae showcased his impeccable style. When asked if the production team suggested he lose weight before filming, he replied, “It wasn’t a suggestion; they told me I couldn’t participate if I didn’t lose weight.” He added, “I love food too much, and I was already a bit overweight at the time. I was exercising to lose weight, and being part of Culinary Class Wars motivated me to push myself even harder.”

When addressing his earlier comment, “If I were the judge, no one would contest it,” Ahn Sung Jae explained, “I have a diverse range of experiences and education, so if there were two judges, I believed I could provide a fair assessment. I thought people might interpret that as arrogance.”

Ahn Sung Jae also reflected on his dynamics with Paik Jong Won, saying, “It wasn’t great. By not great, I mean that our standards differed. Our perspectives on food didn’t align, which made me think we could judge more fairly. However, Paik was very supportive, and as we filled in each other’s gaps, I grew to respect him. Still, if we meet again in the future, I won’t back down on my opinions.”

He also shared which contestant left the strongest impression on him. Ahn Sung Jae stated, “My expertise is in Western, Japanese, and Korean cuisines, so I was truly amazed by the dishes crafted by the Chinese chefs. In particular, Chef Jung Ji Sun’s ‘Candied Sweet Siraegi’ caught my attention, and I admired her creativity.”

With the show’s popularity leading to a quick confirmation of Season 2, Ahn Sung Jae remarked, “I’ve heard discussions about joining, but we need further conversations. If there are better judges who can do an even better job, I would support that.”