The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Luxury brands continue hiking prices in Korea

  • 3

    China flags consequences of Yoon's stronger coupling with US, Japan

  • 5

    Napoli's Kim Min-jae named Serie A's best defender, makes Team of the Season

  • 7

    Pyongyang as lived experience: existentialism and identity in North Korea

  • 9

    From hip-hop idols to global superstars, BTS shatters records over decade

  • 11

    BTS producer encourages anticipation for future messages from group

  • 13

    Defense chiefs of S. Korea, US, Japan to meet in Singapore amid NK threats

  • 15

    PHOTOSTrain collision in India

  • 17

    S. Korea, US agree on joint probe into NK 'space rocket' debris once salvaged: Seoul official

  • 19

    Zelenskyy says Ukraine ready to launch counteroffensive

  • 2

    India train crash kills over 280, injures 900 in one of nation's worst rail disasters

  • 4

    INTERVIEW'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series

  • 6

    Wall Street leaps, nearly escapes its bear market after strong jobs report

  • 8

    US, China trade blame as hopes for military dialogue fade

  • 10

    'The Roundup: No Way Out' tops 3 mil. admissions

  • 12

    UN official calls out Security Council for inaction on N. Korea

  • 14

    House lawmakers urge US to rally allies over China's Micron ban

  • 16

    Reasons to talk about North Korea

  • 18

    US, Japan, S. Korea aim to share NK missile warning data

  • 20

    EU's top diplomat discusses Ukraine's ammunition needs with S. Korea

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Mon, June 5, 2023 | 00:07
Shows & Dramas
Celebrity chef Paik Jong-won takes his business skills to next level with 'The Genius Paik'
Posted : 2023-03-30 08:18
Updated : 2023-03-30 16:08
Lee Gyu-lee
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
From left, the cast members John Park, Kwon Yu-ri, producer Lee Woo-hyung, Paik Jong-won, BamBam and Lee Jang-woo pose during the press conference for the tvN's reality show 'The Genius Paik,' held in Mapo District, Wednesday. Courtesy of tvN
From left, the cast members John Park, Kwon Yu-ri, producer Lee Woo-hyung, Paik Jong-won, BamBam and Lee Jang-woo pose during the press conference for the tvN's reality show "The Genius Paik," held in Mapo District, Wednesday. Courtesy of tvN

By Lee Gyu-lee

Celebrity chef and restaurant business owner Paik Jong-won is putting his skill to use to introduce Korean food to people around the world who are unfamiliar with the cuisine.

TvN's new reality show "The Genius Paik," scheduled to premiere on April 2, invites Paik and a group of celebrities to start their own restaurants in other countries where locals have had few chances of encountering Korean food.

The chef will start in Morocco with singer BamBam and actor Lee Jang-woo, and then head to Naples, Italy, with Lee, along with singers John Park and Kwon Yu-ri.

The show's producer, Lee Woo-hyung, said the team spent a long time developing the program and convincing Paik to get on board.

"We've talked about the show since three or four years ago. This is Paik's challenge to become world class," Lee said during the press conference for the show, held in Mapo District, Wednesday. "Like you've seen from his previous shows like 'Paik Jong-won's Alley Restaurant,' he's a tough mentor. So it would be nice to see the restaurateur side of him and see how well he does."

In each country, Paik and the team are given the mission to start a business within 72 hours with just 3 million won ($2,300).

From left, the cast members John Park, Kwon Yu-ri, producer Lee Woo-hyung, Paik Jong-won, BamBam and Lee Jang-woo pose during the press conference for the tvN's reality show 'The Genius Paik,' held in Mapo District, Wednesday. Courtesy of tvN
Scenes from tvN's reality show "The Genius Paik" / Courtesy of tvN

Paik said the experience was shocking and grueling. "I thought (72 hours and 3 million won) would just be a concept at first but it was a real thing. So before anything else, like my business skills, the first thing that came out was curse words," he said. "When you watch it, you'll think 'how can they make Korean food here?'"

The producer shared that the production team did not disclose the destination to Paik and the cast members beforehand to give a more dramatic effect in starting a Korean restaurant.

"Our main focus is to take away the privileges Paik already has. The reason we kept our destinations a secret is that we didn't want Paik and his crew to research the areas beforehand," he said. "That's also why gave a minimum amount of money and limited time to prepare and start the business. We felt we would able to pull out a more natural and entrepreneurial side of Paik that way."

Paik said the hardest part was to familiarize the locals with Korean food, a cuisine that was still unfamiliar to them.

"Running a business abroad was much harder than doing it in Korea. You need to consider what their views are toward Korean food. I thought taste would be the most important thing to win over (the customers) but getting them familiarized with the cuisine was the most important part," he said. "We also had to think about the revenue to not get embarrassed, so we even took care of marketing. The co-stars didn't have experience in running a business but their opinions helped a lot. We would have meetings every night."

"The Genius Paik" will air every Sunday at 7:40 p.m.


Emailgyulee@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1[LIFE'S OLLE TRAILS 1] How hiking Jeju's 437km of trails changed my life LIFE'S OLLE TRAILS 1How hiking Jeju's 437km of trails changed my life
2Korea denies discussion with EU on sending ammunition to Ukraine Korea denies discussion with EU on sending ammunition to Ukraine
3Election watchdog under fire for refusing to accept inspection Election watchdog under fire for refusing to accept inspection
4S. Korea, Japan agree to prevent recurrence of radar disputeS. Korea, Japan agree to prevent recurrence of radar dispute
5Public welcomed to rediscover newly demilitarized land in Yongsan Children's Garden Public welcomed to rediscover newly demilitarized land in Yongsan Children's Garden
6Concerns rise over Samsung SDS' growing intra-group transactionsConcerns rise over Samsung SDS' growing intra-group transactions
7K-food transforms global culinary industry K-food transforms global culinary industry
8Korea sees record-high number of flu patients for late spring Korea sees record-high number of flu patients for late spring
9Shipbuilding stocks rally over hope for 'super cycle' Shipbuilding stocks rally over hope for 'super cycle'
10Korean bio firms to seek new opportunities at int'l convention in BostonKorean bio firms to seek new opportunities at int'l convention in Boston
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition
2Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation
3[INTERVIEW] 'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series INTERVIEW'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series
4'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season 'HyeMiLeeYeChaePa' producer Lee Tae-kyung hopeful of second season
5How artist Michael Rakowitz resurrects lost past of Iraq through food packaging How artist Michael Rakowitz resurrects lost past of Iraq through food packaging
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group