Chef Lee Ha-Sung Apologizes for His "Words and Actions" in Culinary Class Wars Season 2

Chef Lee Ha-Sung, better known to viewers as “Culinary Monster” on Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars Season 2, has issued a public apology over his “rough language” and behavior during the season.

The apology, which was shared in an interview uploaded to Netflix Korea’s YouTube channel on January 14, follows online backlash from viewers, many of whom took issue with his tone and choice of words during several high-pressure moments on the show. Clips of his remarks circulated widely on social media after the episodes aired, with some viewers describing his language as unnecessarily harsh.

In the interview, the Black Spoon chef said he was in a highly pressured headspace while filming—one he tied to the stakes he felt around his career and his planned restaurant opening in New York.

“If I didn’t achieve good results in this filming, everything I had done up to that point could have been in vain,” Chef Lee said, adding that this was why his words and actions “might have come across as harsher.” He then apologized “for causing discomfort to many people.”

Lee also extended his apology to the show’s production staff and the audience. “I felt like I was causing trouble for the production team who worked hard on the program, and I am truly sorry for that,” he said, before adding: “I also apologize to the viewers for any inconvenience.”

The chef placed second in Culinary Class Wars' second season, following a finale face-off with Choi Kang-Rok, who ultimately took the win and the show’s 300 million won prize.

For the uninitiated, prior to his Culinary Class Wars fame, Chef Lee has worked in some of the world’s most acclaimed kitchens, including The French Laundry, Geranium, and Atomix. Currently, he is preparing to open his first restaurant, Oyatte, in New York.

In the same interview, Lee closed with an invitation: “If you ever visit New York, I would be grateful if you came to dine,” he said.