CNN recently highlighted Chef Anh Sung-jae, a judge on the Netflix series “Culinary Class Wars,” who has garnered widespread attention for his culinary expertise.
Anh, the only chef in Korea who earned three Michelin stars for his restaurant Mosu, has long been recognized for his unique position in the culinary world, but his appearance on the Netflix series has sparked new interest.
CNN noted that Anh’s journey, from the battlefields of Iraq to Michelin-starred kitchens and a popular Netflix series, is far from conventional. The report detailed how Anh, who immigrated to California at the age of 13, rose to prominence as one of Asia’s top chefs.
Reflecting on his early days, Anh said, “We were an immigrant family from Korea chasing the ‘American Dream.’ We arrived in the U.S. without knowing any English.”
Explaining his decision to join the U.S. military, Anh said, “I thought it was the only way I could travel.” He described his path through serving in the U.S. Forces Korea and volunteering for deployment to Iraq after the 9/11 attacks.
“When I volunteered for the Iraq War, people asked, ‘Why would you do something so crazy?’” Anh shared. “I grew up hearing stories about the Korean War and Vietnam from my grandfather and father. I thought this would be my only chance to experience war.”
Anh described his military service as an “eye-opening experience,” saying, “My four years in the military were among the best and most interesting moments of my life.”
After leaving the military, Anh considered becoming a Porsche mechanic due to his love of race cars. However, a chance encounter with chefs from Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in California changed his life.
“They were all wearing white shirts and checkered pants. I had no idea what that school was about,” Anh recalled. After a series of consultations, he enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu, a decision that set him on a new career path. “I’ve never looked back or regretted it,” Anh said, adding with a smile, “Now I drive a Porsche, so it’s fine.”
While Anh’s decision to pursue cooking was impulsive, CNN noted that his culinary talents were deeply ingrained. Raised on his grandmother’s home-cooked meals, Anh also helped at his immigrant parents’ Chinese restaurant after school, making cooking feel like a natural calling.
After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu, Anh built his career at Michelin 3-star restaurants in the U.S., such as The French Laundry and Benu. In 2015, he took a bold step and opened Mosu in San Francisco. The restaurant quickly earned a Michelin star, cementing his reputation in the competitive San Francisco dining scene.
In 2017, Anh returned to Korea and opened Mosu Seoul, explaining, “I wanted to come back and apply what I know and understand. I wanted to work with local ingredients and Korean culture and heritage.”
At Mosu, Anh takes an unrestricted approach to cooking. “I cook what I think is best without any boundaries or genres,” he said. In 2022, Mosu Seoul was awarded three Michelin stars.
Despite the fame brought by his Netflix appearance, Anh admitted feeling uncomfortable with the sudden spotlight. “I want to speak accurately, logically, and carefully because people rely on what I say,” he explained. “I’ve never acted, I’ve just been myself. I deeply respected the contestants’ courage and wanted to encourage them.”
Anh also expressed pride in Korea’s growing influence on global fine dining. “The world is becoming fascinated by Korean culture, cuisine, and fine dining,” he said. “Seoul used to be a stopover destination, but now it’s becoming a final destination.”
BY SINAE JUNG, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
