Quick access to main page (top) Direct access to main contents Quick access to main page (bottom)

Is Chef Ahn’s Second Apology Enough? Exploring the Wine Switch Scandal

Daniel Kim Views  

Translation result. 안성재/사진=헤럴드뮤즈 By Kim Nayul, Herald Muse — Chef Ahn Seong-jae has issued a second apology over a wine‑switching scandal, but public reaction has only grown harsher.

On May 6, Ahn posted a follow‑up apology about the wine swap that took place at his restaurant, Masu.

“I accept full responsibility for everything that happened at Masu,” he wrote, adding that false impressions have spread and that he felt it was his duty to explain exactly how the incident unfolded. He said the restaurant instructed the sommelier to submit a written report under company policy and removed him from any role serving customers’ wines.

He vowed to take full managerial responsibility and tighten oversight to prevent a repeat, saying he will stay humble and rededicate himself to improvement. He apologized again.

After Masu’s initial apology, Ahn’s second statement briefly seemed to calm the situation. An hour later, however, he uploaded a new video to his YouTube channel, and the backlash intensified.

The clip, posted to his channel “Chef Ahn Seong‑jae,” was titled “Four late‑night snack picks for when you’re a little hungry.”

Viewers responded with a wave of dislikes. Many called the timing tone‑deaf, arguing it was inappropriate to post new content the same day he apologized, and negative sentiment toward the sommelier increased.

Previously, on the 21st of last month, a diner identified only as A said they had ordered a wine‑pairing set at Masu but found the sommelier had substituted wine that was 100,000 KRW (approximately 75 USD) cheaper. That claim sparked the uproar, and Masu has since issued an apology.

Daniel Kim
content@tenbizt.com

Comments0

300

Comments0

[Food] Latest Stories

  • Eat Like a Local: 5 Best Hidden Gem Noodle Spots in South Korea
    Eat Like a Local: 5 Best Hidden Gem Noodle Spots in South Korea
  • Stop Making Plain Toast — The Viral Milk Trick That Changes Everything
    Stop Making Plain Toast — The Viral Milk Trick That Changes Everything
  • South Korea’s Ediya Coffee Launches Massive 1L Summer Bottles
    South Korea's Ediya Coffee Launches Massive 1L Summer Bottles
  • Forget Chunky Potatoes: This Viral ‘Flat’ Method Is a Game Changer
    Forget Chunky Potatoes: This Viral 'Flat' Method Is a Game Changer
  • Is Your Minced Garlic Actually Safe? The Hidden Danger in Your Fridge
    Is Your Minced Garlic Actually Safe? The Hidden Danger in Your Fridge
  • Stop Boiling Your Octopus: The One Simple Tweak for a Gourmet Result
    Stop Boiling Your Octopus: The One Simple Tweak for a Gourmet Result

Weekly Best Articles

  • Choi Dong-seok’s Family Bond: How a Simple Engraving Reveals Deep Love for His Children
  • Kwak Sun-hee’s Stunning Wedding Photos: A Celebration of Love and Courage
  • Is ‘I Am a Natural Person’ Just a Big Lie? Comedian Yoon-taek Reveals Shocking Secrets!
  • Health Scare: Why Fans Are Worried About Go Ji Yong’s Dramatic Weight Loss
  • Discover the Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival: A Taste of Korea at H-Mart in the USA!
  • 2026 Spring Wildfire Prevention: How Gyeryong City is Cutting Response Time to 30 Minutes!

You May Also Like

  • 1
    Trump Slashes AI Review Window to 30 Days Amid National Security Debate

    Politics 

    Trump Slashes AI Review Window to 30 Days Amid National Security Debate
  • 2
    Ukraine’s EU Bid Surges as Hungary Drops Opposition Amid Russian Attacks

    Politics 

    Ukraine’s EU Bid Surges as Hungary Drops Opposition Amid Russian Attacks
  • 3
    Trump Backs Colombia's 'El Tigre' — What It Means for U.S. Relations

    Politics 

    Trump Backs Colombia’s ‘El Tigre’ — What It Means for U.S. Relations
  • 4
    Trump Backs Colombia's Far-Right Outsider—What's at Stake?

    Politics 

    Trump Backs Colombia’s Far-Right Outsider—What’s at Stake?
  • 5
    12.5% Tariff Hit: South Korea Faces New U.S. Trade Penalties

    Politics 

    12.5% Tariff Hit: South Korea Faces New U.S. Trade Penalties

Popular Now

  • 1
    12.5% Tariff Alert: Why the U.S. Is Targeting South Korean Imports

    Politics 

  • 2
    Marta Kostyuk Makes History at French Open Amid Ukraine Crisis

    Politics 

  • 3
    37 Years in Exile: The Tiananmen Leader Who Just Wants to Go Home

    Politics 

  • 4
    South Korea's Cheongju Airport Faces Crisis as Passenger Numbers Explode

    Politics 

  • 5
    Nuclear Submarine Race: South Korea's High-Stakes Bid for U.S. Fuel

    Politics 

Weekly Best Articles

  • Choi Dong-seok’s Family Bond: How a Simple Engraving Reveals Deep Love for His Children
  • Kwak Sun-hee’s Stunning Wedding Photos: A Celebration of Love and Courage
  • Is ‘I Am a Natural Person’ Just a Big Lie? Comedian Yoon-taek Reveals Shocking Secrets!
  • Health Scare: Why Fans Are Worried About Go Ji Yong’s Dramatic Weight Loss
  • Discover the Winter Gongju Chestnut Festival: A Taste of Korea at H-Mart in the USA!
  • 2026 Spring Wildfire Prevention: How Gyeryong City is Cutting Response Time to 30 Minutes!

Must-Reads

  • 1
    Trump Slashes AI Review Window to 30 Days Amid National Security Debate

    Politics 

    Trump Slashes AI Review Window to 30 Days Amid National Security Debate
  • 2
    Ukraine’s EU Bid Surges as Hungary Drops Opposition Amid Russian Attacks

    Politics 

    Ukraine’s EU Bid Surges as Hungary Drops Opposition Amid Russian Attacks
  • 3
    Trump Backs Colombia's 'El Tigre' — What It Means for U.S. Relations

    Politics 

    Trump Backs Colombia’s ‘El Tigre’ — What It Means for U.S. Relations
  • 4
    Trump Backs Colombia's Far-Right Outsider—What's at Stake?

    Politics 

    Trump Backs Colombia’s Far-Right Outsider—What’s at Stake?
  • 5
    12.5% Tariff Hit: South Korea Faces New U.S. Trade Penalties

    Politics 

    12.5% Tariff Hit: South Korea Faces New U.S. Trade Penalties

Popular Now

  • 1
    12.5% Tariff Alert: Why the U.S. Is Targeting South Korean Imports

    Politics 

  • 2
    Marta Kostyuk Makes History at French Open Amid Ukraine Crisis

    Politics 

  • 3
    37 Years in Exile: The Tiananmen Leader Who Just Wants to Go Home

    Politics 

  • 4
    South Korea's Cheongju Airport Faces Crisis as Passenger Numbers Explode

    Politics 

  • 5
    Nuclear Submarine Race: South Korea's High-Stakes Bid for U.S. Fuel

    Politics 

Share it on...