tvN’s new variety show Undercover Chef is teasing a shocking twist: Korea’s top star chefs ditch their titles and secretly infiltrate foreign restaurants as the lowest-ranked rookies, fighting to survive from the bottom up.
On the 24th, the team behind Undercover Chef revealed the premiere date along with the main poster. In the show, Korea’s top-tier chefs head to countries that shaped their culinary lives, take undercover jobs in local kitchens, and carry out hidden missions. The core premise: they set aside the “owner-chef” title and earn recognition purely on skill from the very bottom.
This season’s challengers are Sam Kim, Ji-sun Jung, and Sung-jun Kwon. Fans are eager to see how these standout chefs will fare inside unfamiliar kitchens.
Sam Kim is bound for Parma, Italy. Known for his naturalist philosophy that highlights ingredients’ original flavors, he faces the ultimate test in the cuisine’s homeland.
Ji-sun Jung becomes the youngest member in Chengdu, the heart of Sichuan cuisine. Having previously studied culinary arts at Yangzhou University in China, Jung returns to basics and starts fresh as a kitchen rookie in Chengdu.
Sung-jun Kwon, nicknamed the “Naples Food Mafia,” heads to Naples, Italy. With training at Italy’s ALMA culinary school and experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, Kwon still competes from square one as the newest recruit on site.
Rather than a simple cooking showdown, the program zeroes in on dismantling hierarchy. Chefs treated like bosses back home now handle dishwashing, prep, and every bit of grunt work to earn their teammates’ trust. Outside their comfort zone, skill, attitude, and adaptability will decide who truly wins.
The producers said, “All three chefs are starting over in the cities that shaped their roots,” adding, “Look forward to how they react when faced with rookie duties they haven’t done in years.”
Undercover Chef premieres on May 21 at 8:40 p.m.