Can Baek Jong-won Win Back the Public with Culinary Class Wars?
Sincerity is Revealed in Conversation, Not Explanation
Hey diptok Fam! Ah-Young here, back again! 👋
If you've been browsing online communities lately, it’s impossible to miss the talk surrounding Baek Jong-won. It’s arguably been the biggest topic of the past six months. While people used to say, "As expected of Baek Jong-won," the sentiment has shifted. Now, reactions like "It’s repulsive" or "I don't want to see him" are becoming much more common. Starting with the 'Bbaek-ham' controversy, followed by meat hygiene issues and violations in labeling ingredients and origins, public sentiment has tilted from mere anger toward deep disappointment.
Specifically, his comment during a wildfire—saying he had to go cook for firefighters rather than consoling angry shareholders right before a general meeting—left a bitter taste for many.
This kind of disappointment lingers. Anger can fade quickly, but the feeling that a trusted standard has crumbled is not easily resolved. That’s why people are asking: Can Baek Jong-won ever win back the public's heart? And at the center of that question lies Culinary Class Wars.
A Different Baek Jong-won in Culinary Class Wars Season 2
In Culinary Class Wars Season 2, Baek Jong-won shows a different side compared to Season 1. While this might be the result of careful editing, he talks less and is slower to offer the "correct" answer. Instead, scenes are repeated where he first asks a chef why they made a certain choice and listens to their story until the very end.
👉 diptok Blog — A Full Summary of Culinary Class Wars Season 2 So Far
Whether this change is a calculated move for image management or a genuine shift toward a more cautious attitude doesn't matter much to the viewer. The impression he leaves is simple: this time, he seems closer to someone who wants to hear a person's story first, rather than someone trying to teach them. That is the Baek Jong-won appearing in Season 2.
When Does the Public Heart Return?
People don't open their hearts just because an apology was well-written. They don't trust again just because an explanation was thorough. Rather, hearts move slightly when someone refrains from trying to persuade or "fix" us, and instead waits, suspends judgment, and listens until the end.
This is why they say trust is recovered through the attitude of the conversation rather than the content of the words. The change Baek Jong-won shows in Culinary Class Wars is meaningful for this reason. He appears to be standing before people with a step back, rather than struggling to prove how great he is. We tend to grant more grace to a person who has become cautious than to one who strives to maintain an image of perfection.
Why Baek’s Evaluation Resembles Random Chat
In a random chat, the moment a conversation ends fastest is when the other person enters with the "right answer" already in hand. Think about it. The moment a stranger starts throwing advice or judgments at you, you immediately want to cut the conversation short. Conversely, in front of someone who listens without saying a word, a surprising number of stories begin to flow out.
You’ll experience something similar on diptok. People don't come here to find solutions; they want a conversation where they aren't judged. This mirrors why Baek Jong-won’s attitude in this season feels different to viewers. Even though he is still a judge, he is trying not to look like someone trying to "fix" others. In that moment, the program stops looking like a field of evaluation and starts looking like a field of conversation.
Ultimately, Can His Popularity Recover?
No one can guarantee if Baek Jong-won will fully recover public trust through Culinary Class Wars. However, what is clear is that this attempt isn't being made through excuses or logic. It’s through the attitude of speaking less, delaying judgment, and hearing the person's story first. We aren't all waiting for a perfect expert. We are looking for a person who knows how to be quiet and listen when they are wrong. Sincerity cannot be proven in a short time; it naturally reveals itself through conversation over a long period.
This story of Baek Jong-won is ultimately our story, too. Are we people who offer advice first, or people who listen until the end? Whether it’s in a random chat or an everyday conversation, the place where a person's heart rests is always the same.
I’ll be back with another 100% relatable story next time! Thank you so much for reading until the end! 🙏
I hope today's story brought a little peace to your heart. If you need a place to comfortably share these kinds of stories at night, why not start your own honest conversation on diptok?