Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
Try GOLD - Free
'Crazy Chef' leading K-food's rise
The Straits Times
|October 12, 2025
Famous in South Korea for years, Choi Hyun-seok has seen his popularity grow globally, thanks to his appearances on Netflix. He tells Sumiko Tan why he doesn't like following the crowd.
Even if Choi Hyun-seok weren't a celebrity chef, he would still stand out in a crowd. Towering at 1.9m, his posture is ramrod straight and there's a faintly theatrical air about him. It's probably part instinct, part habit, honed by years in front of television cameras.
This presence comes to life during our photography session. Chest puffed out, arms folded, then planted firmly on his hips, he stares into the camera with a half-smirk playing on his lips. It's a commanding aura that has helped make him one of South Korea's most famous chefs.
But over lunch, the showmanship softens. The flamboyant TV persona - his signature move is flinging salt on his dishes from above his head - turns out to be more of a carefully crafted public performance.
Off-camera, he is approachable and down-to-earth, and his smile is more cheeky than smug.
At 53, Choi has been a household name in South Korea for many years because of his appearances on several TV cooking shows. But streaming platform Netflix brought him international fame, including in Singapore.
In 2024, he was among 100 chefs competing in Culinary Class Wars, a South Korean cooking competition that became a global hit on Netflix. Although he didn't take the prize - finishing in the top eight he left an impression on viewers who hadn't known of him before.
Netflix also began streaming Chef & My Fridge, a hilarious Korean variety show where celebrity chefs, including many from Culinary Class Wars, have 15 minutes to cook for celebrities using ingredients from their home fridges, which are brought into the studio. The show is a reboot of Please Take Care of My Refrigerator, a popular South Korean cooking show that aired from 2014 to 2019.
Choi was in Singapore in September to promote a collaboration with Bulgogi Syo, a Korean barbecue restaurant chain.
This story is from the October 12, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Straits Times
The Straits Times
Bouquets Kindness • Kudos to man who cleaned up stranger’s vomit on train
A recent video posted online shows a young man on a North-East Line MRT train who didn’t hesitate to help a fellow commuter who had fallen sick and vomited.
1 min
February 27, 2026
The Straits Times
Using capital value to assess property tax for owner-occupied homes ‘not appropriate’: Indranee
Assessing property tax for owner-occupied properties based on capital value would not be an appropriate approach, said Second Minister for Finance Indranee Rajah during the debate on the Ministry of Finance’s (MOF) budget on Feb 26.
2 mins
February 27, 2026
The Straits Times
Two Chinese diaspora daughters, two different flags
Alysa Liu and Eileen Gu share parallel childhoods, but at the Winter Olympics, the two Chinese-American champions have been cast as symbols of a divided era.
6 mins
February 27, 2026
The Straits Times
Singapore's fertility rate sinks to new low, raising concerns
Citizen population may start to fall by early 2040s without new measures: DPM Gan
5 mins
February 27, 2026
The Straits Times
Strong finances give S'pore a strategic advantage in an uncertain world: PM
In a volatile world where smaller countries risk being bypassed, the Republic must adapt its economic strategies to keep growing and to create opportunities for all Singaporeans, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Feb 26.
5 mins
February 27, 2026
The Straits Times
Employment Pass • Uniform salary threshold works better in current climate
We thank Mr Goh Eck Hong for his letter, “Fine-tune new Employment Pass salary thresholds based on industries” (Feb 24).
1 min
February 27, 2026
The Straits Times
Expand scope of community health screenings
I attended a “See, Hear, Eat Better” functional screening by the Health Promotion Board at my void deck.
1 min
February 27, 2026
The Straits Times
Wage growth, not one-off handouts, key to tackling cost pressures: PM
Steady and sustainable wage growth a more durable solution in the long term
3 mins
February 27, 2026
The Straits Times
S’pore to invest in next-gen space tech, eyes jobs in high-growth sector: DPM Gan
Advanced technologies for earth observation, satellite communications and space asset management, as well as geospatial applications for urban planning, disaster management and environmental monitoring, have been earmarked for growth in Singapore’s developing space sector.
3 mins
February 27, 2026
The Straits Times
Harimoto comes of age and out of brother's shadow
On Miwa Harimoto’s head sits a Kuromi hairclip, and in her arms an accessories bag and charms of the cartoon character.
3 mins
February 27, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size