"Is It Following the Legacy of Cheong-ryeol?" vs "It's the Photo's Fault"… The Explanation Ignited Controversy
Yoon Joo-mo (real name Yoon Na-ra), who gained attention by ranking 5th in the Netflix variety show 'Black and White Chef 2', has come under fire for the quality controversy of the convenience store lunchbox products bearing his name. In particular, the way he addressed the controversy seems to have worsened public opinion.
Recently, posts titled 'Yoon Joo-mo Convenience Store Lunchbox Real Thing' have spread across online communities and social media. The products in question are 'Stir-fried Pork with Chili Peppers Rice Bowl' and 'Pickled Radish Tuna Rice Bowl', which Yoon Joo-mo launched in collaboration with a large corporation. Consumers criticized the products for having contents that are woefully insufficient for the price, calling it "The Second Cheong-ryeol Lunchbox".
Contrary to the high-level cooking skills shown on the show, disappointed consumers remarked on the meager contents of the actual products, stating, "The portion is too small," and "The cost performance is the worst."
As the controversy spread, Yoon Joo-mo took to his social media to directly address the issue. He stated, "The photos that spread online were taken in a way that made the food look unappetizing, leading to misunderstandings." He then released 'plating photos' that neatly arranged the contents in a separate bowl. He emphasized, "I made it with care using domestic ingredients and brisket broth to capture the artificial taste of the existing cup rice."
However, this explanation backfired. Critics pointed out that it overlooked the core value of convenience store lunchboxes, which is 'convenience'. Netizens raised their criticism, saying, "Who moves convenience store lunchboxes into pretty bowls to eat?" and "Talking about plating in response to the criticism of portion size is a non sequitur." Some even suggested the emergence of a new term, 'Joo-mo-hada', following 'Cheong-ryeol'.
Of course, there are some positive responses like, "The meat content was more than I expected," and "It was easy to prepare." However, it is insufficient to reverse the disappointment of the public who purchased it believing in the reputation of the star chef. Yoon Joo-mo promised to reflect on the feedback, but the industry is watching closely to see what impact this controversy will have on the overall trust in the cast of 'Black and White Chef 2'.
