Baek Jong-won, the CEO of The Born Korea, has announced a halt to his broadcasting activities, prompting fans to release a statement.
On the 6th, the gallery of the Netflix show 'Black and White Chef: Culinary Class War' on DC Inside issued a statement mentioning, "'Black and White Chef' has garnered significant attention by winning the Grand Prize in the broadcasting category at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards."
They continued, "At the center of this program is Baek Jong-won, the CEO of The Born Korea. He is recognized for elevating the nation's food and cooking to popular culture, and is regarded as a key figure in this award."
They added, "Currently, CEO Baek Jong-won is facing social criticism amidst ongoing legal controversies, including additional charges. Nevertheless, we cannot help but question how double standards are being applied in our society."
Fans pointed out that Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's candidate for the 21st presidential election, continues his campaign despite the Supreme Court's decision to overturn a previous ruling, stating, "While being lenient towards political figures, there is an unusually strict standard applied to broadcasters. This does not align with the common sense and justice of the people."
They emphasized, "While legal responsibilities must be addressed as they are, the efforts and sincerity of the individual should not be erased."
On the 6th, CEO Baek Jong-won issued his third apology via YouTube and other platforms, stating, "From now on, I will focus all my passion and energy as a businessman, not as a broadcaster, on the growth of The Born Korea," announcing his decision to step back from broadcasting activities. Consequently, he will halt all broadcasting activities except for Netflix's 'Black and White Chef Season 2' and tvN's 'Business Genius Baek Sa-jang 3.'
Fans expressed that this decision should be "deeply respected as a responsible stance," adding, "We sincerely hope that CEO Baek Jong-won will diligently engage in future investigations and legal procedures, and that his creative and beneficial broadcasting activities, including 'Black and White Chef Season 2,' will resume someday."
Finally, they stated, "We clearly express that a society where fair and consistent standards are applied to everyone is the justice we strive for, and we earnestly wish for CEO Baek Jong-won to return to broadcasting proudly in the future."
Recently, The Born Korea, led by CEO Baek Jong-won, has been embroiled in controversies including the 'Baek Ham Gift Set,' pesticide juice, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) safety management, and violations of agricultural land laws. Additionally, the company faced significant damage to its image due to allegations of sexual harassment during interviews involving its employees. Following these incidents, two apologies have been issued.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
