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▲ Ahn Seong-jae. ⓒ Kwak Hye-mi
[SPOTV News=Reporter Kim Hyun-rok] Chef Ahn Seong-jae issued a detailed explanation and offered a renewed apology after allegations that his restaurant, Moso, served the wrong wine.
On the 6th, Ahn posted a lengthy message on his social media account, apologizing for the restaurant’s shortcomings. \”I sincerely apologize again for disappointing guests with inadequate service,\” he wrote, adding that he was deeply sorry to anyone who felt let down by the incident.
This statement came two weeks after Moso Seoul released its initial apology on the 23rd of last month. After critics said that first statement lacked specifics about the facts and follow-up actions, owner-chef Ahn stepped forward to clarify the situation and apologize again.
Ahn said he accepts full responsibility for everything that happened at Moso, and he clarified the sequence of events to correct spreading misunderstandings. He explained that both a 2000 vintage and a 2005 vintage were stored together in the second-floor wine area. Staff mistakenly served the 2005 vintage first, and when a guest asked to take a photo, the staff brought the 2000 bottle from that second-floor storage to show them.
He acknowledged that he reacted poorly at one point, making an offhand, inaccurate comment that the 2000 bottle had been ordered by the bottle and was on the first floor. He said that remark was wrong and inappropriate. He also conceded that suggesting a side-by-side comparison of the 2000 and 2005 vintages was misguided — an honest explanation and a sincere apology should have come first.
According to Ahn, staff later served a dessert wine not included in the original glass pairing as a gesture of apology, and they judged the matter closed. He said he was informed of that after the fact, but added that even if he hadn’t realized the problem at the time of service, that wouldn’t excuse the lapse.
Reflecting on the incident, he wrote that the mistake and the response were mishandled at every step. Given the level of service guests expect from Moso, he understands why customers felt especially disappointed. He said his account reflects what staff interviews and CCTV review revealed, and that his intention is not to excuse the error but to correct distortions and misunderstandings about the basic facts.
Ahn said the sommelier involved was instructed to submit a written statement under company policy and was removed from the role serving customers’ wines. \”As the owner-chef who bears full responsibility for Moso, I promise to tighten oversight and take every measure to prevent this from happening again,\” he pledged.
He closed by saying the incident has reminded him to return to the restaurant’s core values and to maintain the right attitude as a food-service professional. \”I will stay true to my original intentions, work with greater humility, and never forget a sincere devotion to food and to our guests. Once again, I sincerely apologize for disappointing you and for Moso falling short,\” he wrote.
▲ Ahn Seong-jae ⓒ Kwak Hye-mi
Moso Seoul is a fine-dining restaurant owned by Chef Ahn Seong-jae, who became widely known as a judge on seasons 1 and 2 of the TV series \”Heukbaek Chef\” (Black & White Chef). At one point it was Korea’s only Michelin three-star restaurant; after reopening last year it quickly earned two Michelin stars, drawing renewed attention.
Last month, a social media user identified only as A said they visited Moso Seoul with an acquaintance and were served a 2005 vintage during the wine pairing instead of the 2000. When they raised the issue, staff allegedly responded that the 2000 bottle had been ordered by the bottle and was on the first floor, and offered to let them taste the 2000 Bordeaux by the glass — a reply that fueled allegations of a substituted bottle.
Moso Seoul issued an official apology on the 23rd of last month, saying, \”We sincerely apologize for causing confusion during the wine-pairing service by failing to provide accurate guidance to the customer, and for not offering sufficient explanation afterward, which caused great disappointment.\” But the diner continued to criticize Moso’s handling of the situation, and the controversy persisted as many judged the apology insufficient without a clear account of the facts.
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