South Korea’s star chefs are dropping their stripes and heading back to the bottom of the brigade. tvN’s new variety show Undercover Chef is set to premiere this May with a bold, buzzworthy concept.
In Undercover Chef, Sam Kim, Jeong Ji-seon, and Kwon Seong-jun sneak into the very overseas kitchens that shaped their culinary roots—hired as the lowest-ranked juniors. Stripped of owner-chef status and hiding their identities, they must earn respect on skill alone.
According to the production team, Sam Kim and Kwon Seong-jun head to Italy, while Jeong Ji-seon goes to China to work in local restaurants. Introduced merely as everyday chefs filming a documentary, they jump straight onto the line, and the local staff have no idea who they really are.
Watching them survive in unfamiliar territory is a key hook. Away from their home kitchens and thrust into entirely new systems and cultures, all eyes are on how the trio adapts and makes their presence felt. On top of that, they face a nerve-racking condition: within just five days of going undercover, they must complete a specific ‘hidden mission’—cranking up the tension.
The producers shared, “It wasn’t an easy challenge, but all three chefs joined with pride in their cuisine. Over five days filled with laughter, sweat, and tears, watch to see whether pure skill is enough to earn recognition.”
All three previously appeared on Netflix’s cooking survival series Culinary Class Wars. In Season 1, Jeong Ji-seon and Kwon Seong-jun competed as the ‘White Spoon’ and ‘Black Spoon,’ respectively, while Sam Kim took on the ‘White Spoon’ role in Season 2 with a standout performance.