Netflix has clarified the ongoing controversy surrounding Baek Jong-won's appearance in the second season of Black and White Chef, which is set to launch soon.
On the afternoon of Sept. 2, Netflix held the "Netflix 2025 Entertainment Festival" at the JW Marriott Hotel in Dongdaemun, Seoul.
The event had producers and creatives of various hit variety shows, such as Hwang Seul-woo (Crime Scene Zero), Jang Ho-gi (Physical 100), Kim Ye-seul (Three Meals a Day in Kenya, Lee Seo-jin's Dalla Dalla), Kim Hak-min (Black and White Chef), Kim Jae-won (Solo Hell), Jeong Jong-yeon (Mystery Investigation Team, Devil's Plan), Lee So-min (Daehwajang Gianjang, Yoo Jae-suk Camp), PD Kim No-eun (Born Single But I Want to Date), and Netflix Director Yoo Ki-hwan.
With 'Black and White Chef 2' to be released later this year, there have been questions raised as to why Netflix went ahead with Baek Jong-won amidst controversy around him being involved.
At the event, Director Yoo Ki-hwan clarified the reason for the company's action. According to him, "We have confirmed the release date for the show in December.
As I have mentioned many times, there is a similar case in cases like this, we think carefully,we think about the choices that will affect the people who participated in the show.
Since Black and White Chef has 100 participants and 300 to 400 staff members, we thought it would be right to release the show as scheduled and leave the judgment to the viewers."
The remarks made clear that Netflix intends to prioritize the efforts of the large production team while allowing audiences to form their own opinions once the program airs.
In addition to Black and White Chef 2, Netflix also revealed a slate of new and returning variety shows to land in late 2025 and 2026.
Returning series are Crime Scene Zero, Physical 100, Solo Hell, Mystery Investigation Team, and Daehwajang Gianjang. New series will also be launched, like Three Meals a Day in Kenya and Yoo Jae-suk Camp.
The much-awaited second season of Baek Jong-won's Black and White Chef will be out in December, with Netflix insisting that audiences' viewpoints will eventually determine the show's reception.
