Kwon Seong-jun, from the youngest member in a Naples kitchen to a rapid promotion to the pasta station

The Youngest in the Naples Kitchen, Flipping the Script with Skill

In a traditional eatery in Naples, Italy, Kwon Seong-jun, who went undercover as the youngest staff member under a pseudonym, made his presence felt amidst a relentless surge of orders. In the episode of tvN's 'Undercover Chef' aired at 8:40 PM on the 9th, the survival stories of top-tier Korean chefs who joined overseas restaurants at the lowest ranks while hiding their identities were depicted. Renowned chefs such as Sam Kim, Jeong Ji-seon, and Kwon Seong-jun struggled against the harsh labor intensity of the local kitchen.

On his fourth day of work, Kwon Seong-jun once again performed the duties of the youngest staff member. His senior, Antonio, instructed him, "We have 40 reserved guests. We need at least 30 beef rolls." Watching this in the studio, MC Kim Pung expressed sympathy, saying, "He's back to square one." Watching the footage, Kwon Seong-jun calmly replied, "Still, I have to do what needs to be done."

The situation was urgent. To prepare for a large group banquet, all staff members had to process orders without even a break. Until nearly 4 PM, Kwon Seong-jun repeated the lowest-level tasks. The local staff members were completely unaware of Kwon Seong-jun's true identity or his goals.

The 'Gluten-Free' Salad That Found a Forgotten Special Order

Opportunity arrived at an unexpected moment. Immediately after the appetizer set for the group guests left the kitchen, Kwon Seong-jun stayed behind alone and began making a special dish using cold beef. The dish he completed was a customized 'gluten-free' beef salad for a specific guest. It was a special order that even the on-site staff had missed.

A senior staff member who discovered the menu prepared by Kwon Seong-jun praised him, saying he had caught an order that even he had overlooked. Kwon Seong-jun's movements while helping with the risotto caught the eyes of the on-site managers. After closely observing Kwon Seong-jun's capabilities, CEO Laura called an emergency management meeting with CEO Luisa in the back kitchen.

When Kwon Seong-jun approached during the meeting, the CEOs suddenly became quiet, prompting Kim Pung to joke, "This is just gossip. Why are you suddenly being so quiet?" However, the actual agenda of the meeting was Kwon Seong-jun's employment status.

"Come to my side," CEO Luisa's Unconventional Promotion Notice

CEO Luisa called Kwon Seong-jun and said, "For tonight's service, come to the pasta station next to me." A lightning-fast promotion was decided, moving him directly to the pasta station shortly after joining as the youngest staff member. This was the result of CEO Laura proposing a meeting to CEO Luisa, stating she had something to say.

CEO Luisa explained the specific reason for the promotion. "I felt that Kwon has the capability, and even in the moment he was helping with the risotto, he knew exactly how to move," she said. With this, Kwon Seong-jun moved to the pasta station.

The Chefs' Survival Game Started by Undercover Employment

tvN's 'Undercover Chef' is a program that captures the intense survival process of top-tier Korean chefs, such as Sam Kim, Jeong Ji-seon, and Kwon Seong-jun, who join overseas restaurants at the lowest ranks while hiding their identities. They must carry out the mission of surviving the labor intensity of local overseas kitchens without being discovered.