"We must take responsibility for what we've committed to; I believe we will. That said, it would be a waste to send off such a valuable grants participant without any fact-checking". Baek Jong-won, the representative of Theborn Korea and a 'lend' in the food industry, was embroiled in criticism due to ongoing controversies, leading to discussions of 'abuse of power' in broadcasting. However, a current broadcasting producer who has observed him for a long time emphasized the need for accountability in the apology but refuted the 'abuse of power' claims. Above all, he revealed the reason why the broadcasting industry continues to call for Baek Jong-won, saying, 'Still, Baek Jong-won.'
Representative Baek Jong-won has recently been engulfed in continuous criticism. This is largely due to issues regarding the labeling of ingredients' origins at Theborn Korea, problems with equipment used during local festival projects, and criticism of employee misconduct, among other controversies. In response, Theborn Korea announced, "We will change everything," releasing a lengthy apology, yet all the arrows of blame continue to point at Representative Baek Jong-won, who has been known to the public through his broadcasts.
Amid the boiling public sentiment, a film director, previously a producer at a major public broadcasting station, claimed that Representative Baek Jong-won had committed 'abuse of power' against staff from 'My Little Television' on MBC. Some producers raised their voices to refute this claim and supported Representative Baek Jong-won. However, one producer's connection to a foundation where Baek Jong-won serves as chairman was revealed, leading to even stronger backlash from the public.
Despite the harsh public sentiment, Producer A, who directed the 'Rhapsody' series, participated in an interview with OSEN on the 29th. The 'Rhapsody' series is a food documentary that began with 'Pork Belly Rhapsody' and included hanwoo, chicken, jjajangmyeon, and soju. Baek Jong-won hosts gourmet meetings to introduce these Korean soul foods, and it has aired on KBS for 5 years since 2020 and has been available on Netflix.
During a phone interview, Producer A was cautious and deliberate. Being a current producer, they were concerned about colleagues or juniors from another program being affected by their remarks. Further investigation confirmed that Producer A is indeed an experienced member of the broadcasting industry and has no conflicts of interest with Theborn Korea or Representative Baek Jong-won, allowing for anonymity and a more open dialogue.
"I know how people will react," A said with a shy laugh, adding, "I wanted to talk about Representative Baek Jong-won based on my personal experiences. I believe that parts for which Theborn Korea has taken responsibility should indeed be followed through. I have no disagreement on that point. However, I do not believe that personal character or qualities should lead to character attacks without proper fact-checking."
When asked about what kind of person Representative Baek Jong-won is, A replied, "He has high standards and expresses himself honestly and boldly, unlike other grants participants. While it might be challenging for the production team to adapt, there are surely aspects we can rely on, and he possesses a producer's mindset, which has greatly helped our team."
A stated, "The work was done primarily through the 'Rhapsody' series. 'Pork Belly Rhapsody' was the first program to feature him. However, I had knocked on his door for several years prior. Many producers want to work with him. Although it is a difficult path, I continued to reach out, thinking, 'It probably won't work? But I should at least ask.' The suggestion for 'Pork Belly Rhapsody' came up, and he enthusiastically agreed to proceed. He was interested in properly showcasing Korean food and introducing it globally, which is why he was willing to participate in the food documentary project."
He added, "In fact, I am grateful to him. He has helped me a lot by providing many good ideas for the program. He definitely has a 'producer's mindset' and that is a significant advantage for him as a grants participant. It's commonly referred to as a 'PD mindset.' He never takes a passive role as a program participant. Typically, when filming, much of the preparation is done by the production team, which creates about 90% of the content. Grants participants only need to fulfill their roles. However, Baek Jong-won always collaborates in making the program, showing significant proactivity. He has always done so during the 'Rhapsody' series."
He continued, "He indeed has many ideas and often voices them. He acknowledges when something is not right. He clearly states, 'Isn't this wrong?' His way of speaking is honest and somewhat unreserved. In that process, the quality of the output definitely improves. He has a style of actively creating the program through feedback, and over the past 4-5 years, I have also benefited from that process. It’s a part I can 'respect.' I believe many people will recognize that as well."
However, the 'Rhapsody' PD noted, "From the perspective of those accustomed to broadcasting, there are realistic standards. Not being a broadcaster himself, his standards are high, and as a businessman, he fundamentally possesses a strong spirit of challenge. He is drawn strongly to new and experimental things, often saying, 'You won’t know unless you try; how will you know otherwise?' That can be challenging if one cannot adapt. He never limits himself to just the role of a grants participant."
Nonetheless, he smiled and said, "I have also heard the phrases 'Is that all?' and 'Isn't there more?' and have had many moments of realization". Conclusively, the feedback he provided significantly improved the quality of the program, and I benefited from his high standards. Sometimes, his linguistic expressions can be quite strong for some people, and one might think, 'What is this reaction?' However, that's just a different communication style, not necessarily wrong. Ultimately, that spirit of challenge often empowers the production team. That said, he does not insist on everything. He quickly lets go when something is realistically unfeasible, and his decision-making is quite refreshing."
In reality, many entertainment producers who have worked with him, including A, have a high regard for Representative Baek Jong-won. They describe him as "an essential grants participant that we cannot give up from the perspective of the production team." Perhaps due to this, despite the ongoing controversies surrounding Theborn Korea that erupted at the end of March, the filming for the Netflix original show 'Culinary Class Wars: Season 2' featuring Representative Baek Jong-won began as scheduled. Baek Jong-won again participated as a judge in 'Culinary Class Wars 2', following the first season. Recently, he has been shooting the new tvN show 'Sales Genius Baek Sajang: Season 3'. Reports and photos of sightings of Representative Baek Jong-won near the filming location for 'Baek Sajang 3', taking place overseas, have also spread across social media and online communities. Despite criticism, the broadcasting industry continues to hold on to Representative Baek Jong-won.
When asked about his thoughts on this as a current producer, A agreed with the sentiment of many other producers: 'Still, Baek Jong-won.' He emphasized, "As someone in the broadcasting industry, I sincerely hope for an environment where there are no difficulties in the production process. However, from the perspective of the production team, he is undoubtedly a very valuable grants participant. I have continued to think of him as an excellent talent in today’s broadcasting environment."
He also emphasized, "He is a unique individual with talents. In some ways, he is a person with more abilities than a simple grants participant, which no one can deny. His smooth hosting, his producer's mindset in creating programs, the understanding and contemplation about the foods that fill the gaps between them, and even the humanistic aspects are significant strengths he possesses."
Moreover, A stated, "The reason producers want to work with Representative Baek Jong-won is likely due to his ability to keep the program flexible with the atmosphere he brings. Of course, fact-checking is important, and inaccuracies must be addressed and concluded. However, in regard to issues like 'abuse of power,' I wanted to express that it is not so."
[Photo] Provided by OSEN DB, Netflix-tvN.
[OSEN]