Gallup Korea announced on October 1st that “Culinary Class Wars” ranked first (5.3%) in a survey conducted from September 24th to 26th among 1,001 people aged 18 and older nationwide (with a confidence level of 95%, a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points and a response rate of 11.5%).
Following “Culinary Class Wars”, SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama “Good Partner” ranked second with a 4.3% preference rate. This drama addresses various divorce cases with realistic episodes that have captured viewers’ hearts. The show, which ranked first in August, maintained its second place after concluding on September 20th.
tvN’s “Three Meals a Day: Light” ranked fourth with a 3.1% preference rate. This program features Cha Seung-won and Yoo Hae-jin living self-sufficiently in a rural village. The special edition drew attention with the guest appearance of singer Lim Young-woong.
New programs also entered the top 20, such as MBC’s “The Brave Yong Su Jeong” and “Black Out”, catching the public’s eye.
Gallup explained, “Since 2023, the survey has been expanded to include programs available on OTT in addition to traditional TV broadcasts. ‘Culinary Class Wars’ is the first web variety show to take the top spot in this expanded category.”
“Culinary Class Wars” features underdog chefs challenging Korea’s top star chefs, competing solely on the basis of taste. A total of 100 chefs participate, including renowned figures like Chinese cuisine authority Yeo Kyung Rae, “MasterChef Korea 2” winner Choi Kang Rok and star chef Choi Hyun Seok, representing the so-called “white spoon” chefs. They face off against “black spoon” chefs, such as the No.1 Imokase chef and the school meal master, individuals who may be lesser-known but possess exceptional culinary skills. The show is judged by famous restaurateur and TV personality Baek Jong Won and Korea’s only Michelin 3-star chef Ahn Sung Jae.
Upon release, “Culinary Class Wars” quickly rose to the top of Netflix’s global Top 10 non-English TV category, recording 3.8 million views between September 16th and 22nd, and ranking in the top 10 across 18 countries. It also topped the “Non-Drama Popularity Rankings” for two consecutive weeks (third and fourth weeks of September) in a survey conducted by GoodData Corporation, which tracks both TV and OTT programs. The show’s popularity has led to various parodies on SNS.
Meanwhile, episodes 8-10, airing today, will feature a consolation match where fallen “silver spoon” and “black spoon” chefs battle using convenience store ingredients. Following this, the Top 8 chefs advancing to the semifinals will be determined through a restaurant mission.
Source: Daum
