Paik Jong-won, CEO of Theborn Korea, declared that he would halt all broadcasting activities, amid the 'Culinary Class Wars' fandom raising concerns about the double standard society applies to him. Instead, they argue that Paik's contributions should be recognized.
On the 6th, an online community called 'Culinary Class Wars Gallery' issued a statement titled 'Culinary Class Wars Gallery members' stating, 'Culinary Class Wars won the grand award in the broadcasting category at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards,' and added, 'At the center is CEO Paik Jong-won. He is recognized as the main figure behind this award for elevating the nation’s food and cooking into popular culture.'
They noted, 'Currently, CEO Paik is facing social criticism amid ongoing legal controversies that have led to additional charges. We cannot help but question how double standards are being applied by society.' They referenced the case of Lee Jae-myung, a candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea, who faced a guilty ruling in regard to election law violations.
They continued, 'Nevertheless, this candidate continues to pursue presidential ambitions,' and remarked, 'In the results of a public opinion poll released on the 6th, he is receiving a high level of support.'
'The reality is that while there is leniency toward political figures, broadcasters are held to a particularly strict standard. This does not align with the public's notions of common sense and justice,' they added. 'While legal accountability should be enforced as is, one cannot erase the efforts and sincerity of that individual.'
Finally, they said, 'The decision of CEO Paik to step down from broadcasting activities, except for the programs currently being filmed, should be deeply respected as a responsible stance.' They expressed a sincere hope that Paik would faithfully engage in upcoming investigations and legal procedures while his creative and beneficial broadcasting activities, including 'Culinary Class Wars Season 2,' would someday continue.
Meanwhile, Theborn Korea, led by CEO Paik, has been embroiled in controversies over issues such as the 'Back Ham gift set,' pesticide-infused juice, allegations of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) safety mismanagement, and violations of agricultural land laws. Coupled with allegations of employee sexual harassment during interviews, the company has suffered significant damage to its image, leading to the release of two apologies. Subsequently, CEO Paik issued a third apology, stating his official position to focus on revitalizing Theborn Korea alongside ceasing all broadcasting activities.