'Black and White Chef' and 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' have brought Chef Choi Hyun-seok a second wave of popularity, and his restaurant has recently become the center of attention online due to a strict 'dress code' notice.
Recently, major online communities and social media have been revisiting the reservation notice for the fine dining restaurant 'Choi Dot' operated by Chef Choi. The notice states, "We would appreciate it if you could avoid outfits that are overly revealing or may cause discomfort to other customers." This has caught people's attention.
As this notice became known, reactions from netizens have been heated. The majority of internet users believe that basic etiquette should be observed considering the nature of fine dining. In particular, opinions supporting the restaurant's policy dominate, with comments like, "How severe must the cases have been for the restaurant to issue an official notice?" and "It is right to avoid excessive exposure that causes discomfort to others in public places." In fact, some customers have shared photos of themselves wearing shocking outfits while visiting the restaurant on social media, igniting controversy.
On the other hand, some pointed out that this wording was not hastily created due to recent controversies, but rather a guideline that had been in place since 2024. This phenomenon is interpreted as a renewed focus on past operational policies due to the surge in public interest after Chef Choi reached the TOP 8 in the Netflix original show 'Black and White Chef'.
Meanwhile, Chef Choi Hyun-seok is currently engaged in various broadcasting activities, including JTBC's 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator', showcasing his unique wit and creative cooking skills. This dress code issue has sparked a public discussion about the balance between etiquette in fine dining and individual freedom, going beyond a simple incident.
