Black and White Chef: Culinary Class Wars Wins Grand Prize at 61st Baeksang Arts Awards

The Netflix original reality show Black and White Chef: Culinary Class Wars took home the Grand Prize in the TV category at The 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, held on May 5 at COEX D Hall in Seoul. Hosted by a trio of Korean stars—Shin Dong-yup, Suzy, and Park Bo-gum—the ceremony celebrated the best in Korean television, film, and theater.

Director Kim Hak-min delivered an emotional acceptance speech, thanking those behind the success of the culinary competition show. “Special thanks to Baek Jong-won, head judge Ahn Seong-jae, and all the chefs for their incredible dedication. Ten years ago, I was working backstage here while Na Young-seok won the Grand Prize. I thought to myself, ‘I will never feel what that’s like.’ But now, Baeksang has blown me away. I can’t believe it—thank you for this surreal moment,” Kim shared.

He also acknowledged the effort of his team: “We had 350 staff members and PDs who poured their souls into this. I’m especially thankful to the directors now working on Season 2.”

Yoon Hyun-joon, producer from Studio Slam, the show’s production house, emphasized the broader impact of the win: “Receiving the Grand Prize as a variety show is deeply meaningful. The global recognition of K-Content is rising, and variety programming is no exception. Let’s continue supporting it with enthusiasm.”

This year’s Baeksang Arts Awards evaluated works broadcast or staged between April 2023 and March 2024. Content from terrestrial, cable, OTT, and web platforms—as well as theater productions—were assessed by a panel of 60 expert jurors based on a prior survey.

The triumph of Black and White Chef: Culinary Class Wars reaffirms the growing prestige of Korean unscripted television, not just within Asia, but increasingly on the global stage.