Netflix’s hit survival variety show Culinary Class Wars 2 (Black & White Chef: Cooking Class War 2) has officially returned, with producers and chefs promising higher intensity, deeper stories, and even stronger emotional impact than Season 1.
On December 17, a press conference for the show was held at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul, attended by producers Kim Hak-min and Kim Eun-ji, along with eight competing chefs representing both the elite “White Spoon” and challenger “Black Spoon” teams.
Keeping What Fans Loved, Fixing What They Didn’t
Producer Kim Hak-min addressed the pressure of following a hugely successful first season, saying the team was careful not to change the show just for the sake of change.
“Season 1 received so much love that the burden was heavy,” he shared. “We focused on keeping what viewers loved while improving the parts that felt lacking, to create a more complete program.”
This approach aims to preserve the emotional core of the show while raising its overall production quality.
A Stronger, More Surprising Chef Lineup
Producer Kim Eun-ji revealed that Season 1 inspired many chefs who previously declined to now volunteer for Season 2.
“We were shocked by the number of applications,” she said. “Many chefs specifically wanted to compete as ‘Black Spoons.’ When the full lineup of 100 chefs was completed, we couldn’t wait to show it.”
Notably, chefs Sunjae Monk and Hoodukjuk, who were not approached in Season 1, joined this time adding new depth and diversity to the competition.
Chefs Open Up About Growth, Fear, and Healing
Chef French Papa shared an emotional moment about watching the first episode with his son, admitting that the competition helped him rediscover why he loves cooking.
“I was questioning whether I should continue as a chef,” he said. “But Culinary Class Wars gave me comfort. Every one of the 100 chefs has a story, and if viewers focus on those stories, they’ll feel comfort too.”
Chef Jung Ho-young, who declined Season 1 but joined Season 2, called it
“the most thrilling and joyful survival show I’ve experienced in my life.”
Listening Closely to Viewer Feedback
The producers also addressed ongoing public discussions surrounding judge Baek Jong-won, emphasizing that viewer feedback is being taken seriously.
“We are listening carefully and thoughtfully,” Kim Hak-min said. “We’ll take all opinions into account as we plan our next steps.”
While Season 3 has not yet been confirmed, the production team made it clear that audience reactions will heavily influence the future of the series.
“Next Week Will Be Even Better”
Ending on a confident note, Kim Hak-min teased what’s ahead:
“I can guarantee that next week will be even more exciting than this week. The dopamine viewers are waiting for is carefully placed throughout the episodes — and discovering it will be part of the fun.”
Culinary Class Wars 2 pits rising underground chefs against Korea’s top celebrity chefs in a fierce battle where only taste determines status. Episodes 1–3 premiered on December 16, with Episodes 4–7 set to drop on December 23 exclusively on Netflix.