[instiz] ‘CULINARY CLASS WAR’ AHN YOUSEONG “PROVIDES ABALONE PORRIDGE INSTEAD OF RICE CAKE SOUP TO THE BEREAVED FAMILIES…”

Chef Ahn Youseong, who appeared on Netflix’s reality show ‘Culinary Class Wars’, shared an update about helping the bereaved families of the Jeju Air disaster at Muan International Airport. On January 1, Chef Ahn visited Muan International Airport and served abalone porridge to the families affected by the tragedy instead of traditional rice cake soup.

In an interview with SBS Radio’s Kim Tae-hyun’s Political Show that day, he explained, “Serving rice cake soup on New Year’s Day would be meaningful, but the bereaved families are too exhausted and struggling. It’s hard for them even to eat, so I prepared abalone porridge to help them regain a bit of energy.”

“I prepared a thick soup with lots of abalone, hoping that it would help them recover their strength,” he said.

Chef Ahn was also deeply affected by the tragedy, as most of the victims were from Gwangju, Jeonnam, and Jeonbuk provinces. Chef Ahn, a native of Gwangju and South Korea’s 16th Chef de Cuisine, learned to cook at a famous Japanese restaurant in Seoul before returning to his hometown to open a Japanese restaurant. Chef Ahn has been running a restaurant in the western part of Gwangju for a long time and has direct and indirect connections to the victims of the tragedy.

“Some of them were customers, some of them were PDs who were on the show,” he said, adding, “I’m very heartbroken and sad because I’m related to everyone in this area across the bridge.”

Earlier, Chef Ahn Youseong visited the airport on December 30, the day after the tragedy, with 200 servings of kimbap. Reflecting on the moment, he shared, “I felt so heavy-hearted and overwhelmed that I couldn’t focus on work. I didn’t know what the situation at the airport was like or how I could help, but I decided to just go. So, I quickly rolled some kimbap and brought them over.”

He continued, “It was touching to see someone take a bite of the kimbap I made with care and say weakly, “It’s delicious.” It moved me deeply. I resolved to use my cooking skills as a way to volunteer and share in their grief.”

Additionally, other chefs who appeared alongside Chef Ahn on Culinary Class War have also joined in helping the bereaved families. Chef Ahn noted, “After hearing about our food service efforts, many chefs, including Choi Ji-hyung, Bang Ki-soo, and Lim Hee-won, are heading down to help without hesitation.”

1. I really admire people like him.

Those who offer ‘talent donations’ with the hope of providing comfort and hope.

When he said, “Cooking is the only talent I have, so I thought about how I could share in this sorrow from my position,” it was so touching.

I believe that single bowl, filled with warmth and care, must have reached the hearts of the bereaved families and brought them some comfort.

2. Wow he’s so impressiveㅜㅜ 

3. What an amazing person..ㅜㅜ

4. Seriously impressive. This isn’t something anyone can do

5. Why am I crying.. I hope that the bereaved families eat the abalone porridge and gain strength

6. He’s so detailed… really..

7. He used to do a lot of food service for Jeonnam too…

8. I could feel it even on the show just how warm and cool he was. Seriously, I respect him and am thankful for him

9. Truly a cool person.. He seems to have deep thoughts

10. He’s doing a good deedㅠㅠ I hope that the bereaved families gain a little bit of strengthㅠ