Suvechha Sarkar
When Netflix’s ‘Culinary Class Wars’ returned with the thrilling season 2, it provided viewers with fiercer rivalries and unexpected twists. Among all the contestants who gave their best in the competition is Chef Choi Kang-rok. Unlike the other White Spoon chefs, he was unveiled as one of the competition’s two hidden White Spoons. He was also a returning chef, having been eliminated first in Round 3 of the show’s first season. Despite being a hidden White Spoon, Kang-rok did not receive a direct advantage and had to battle alongside 80 ambitious Black Spoon chefs to earn his rightful place in the competition. Fortunately, he survived the elimination round while his fellow hidden White Spoon, Chef Kim Do-yun, was eliminated.
Choi Kang-rok Became the Season’s Winner With His Thoughtful Approach
From the very first moment Choi Kang-rok stepped into the kitchen, his unshakeable composure set the tone for his journey. In the second round of the competition, he found himself going head-to-head against the Black Spoon chef, Iron Arms, a matchup that tested both his skills and nerve. As he rose effortlessly to the challenge, he showcased his culinary expertise through a thoughtfully crafted dish that left the judges visibly impressed. It helped Kang-rok survive the round while eliminating his opponent. When the competition shifted to the ruthless all-or-nothing round, he once again proved his worth not by chasing the spotlight but rather by becoming the backbone of his team. Kang-rok worked on refining the flavors, playing a crucial role in securing the White Spoon team’s victory.
In the following alliance battle, Kang-rok was paired up with fellow White Spoon chef Kim Sung-woon. Together, they delivered a dish substantial enough to place them among the survival candidates. Things changed when their status remained unconfirmed during the judging phase, pushing the two allies into a tense death match. However, Kang-rok didn’t let the pressure affect him, which helped him eliminate Kim Sung-woon and secure his place in the Semifinals. During the first round of the Semifinals, he completed his fish in the final few seconds. Yet, he still claimed the highest score of 185, granting him automatic entry in the Finals. In the ultimate cook-off against Hasung Lee, AKA Culinary Monster, Kang-rok presented a dish that embodied what he would cook for himself. The taste of the dish provided the judges with comfort, leading him to emerge as the winner of the season.
Choi Kang-rok Found His Culinary Calling After Setbacks in His Music Career
Choi Kang-rok’s path to culinary stardom was anything but conventional. He had never dreamed of pursuing a career in the kitchen, but rather as a person who wanted to become a drummer. During his early years, he aspired to follow the academic path in music. After being unsuccessful in clearing the entrance exams for the music school, he pivoted and enrolled at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies to study Spanish. Kang-rok eventually decided to drop out of the university and began working part-time in different kitchens. It served as a way for him to fund his passion and buy new music gear. Reports state that Kang-rok was later inspired by a manga, which paved the way for him to consider pursuing a professional trajectory as a chef.
Kang-rok later opened two sushi shops, with the first one being at the age of 24. Sadly, neither of those ventures took off as he had expected, prompting him to make the transformative decision to enroll at Tsuji Culinary Institute in Japan, where he consistently honed his skills. He was serving as a Tuna Trader, which helped him make ends meet as debt from the two failed restaurants mounted. Kang-rok’s first public breakthrough came in 2013, after he became the winner of season 2 of ‘MasterChef Korea.’ It marked a turning point in his culinary career as he went on to build an impressive television resume. In 2016, he appeared on ‘What Shall We Eat Today-Delivery’ as a guest. Additionally, Kang-rok became a regular cast member on ‘Please Take Care of My Refrigerator’ or ‘Chef & My Fridge’ around late 2024.
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Choi Kang-rok is Broadening His Creative Reach Through Social Media
In February 2025, Choi Kang-rok gradually expanded his presence by becoming the host of the Netflix show ‘The Blank Menu For You.’ In that show, he and his kitchen assistant showcased their skills in creating delicious and personalized meals for celebrities. Besides that, Kang-rok’s influence extends beyond the screen. He has made a mark as an author by dropping a collection of his recipes in the book ‘Choi Kang-rok’s Cooking Notes’ in 2023. Just two years later, he released ‘Cooking For Life,’ which is an essay collection. Kang-rok later opened another restaurant, Neo, a Japanese restaurant located in Seoul, South Korea. Unfortunately, he had to close Neo’s doors in December 2024, but there may be a possibility that he is looking forward to opening his next venture.
Having said that, Kang-rok hasn’t publicly shared the reason behind his decision to close Neo, as the eatery had noticed a surge in reservations during his first stint in season 1 of ‘Culinary Class Wars.’ As of writing, Choi has embarked on a new chapter with the YouTube series, ‘Food Otaky,’ where he travels across Japan to find the nation’s incredible components. It is currently available for streaming on the channel, TEO, with over 1.48 million subscribers. Aside from that, Kang-rok also maintains his own YouTube channel, named Ultra Taste Diary, where he has gained over 639K subscribers. He also boasts over 93.6K followers on Instagram, where he shares pictures of the delicacies that he has created. Nevertheless, Kang-rok has chosen to shield further information about his personal life from the limelight.
