Paik Jong-won / Screenshot from Paik's YouTube channel

Paik Jong-won, CEO of food and beverage company Theborn Korea, known for his role as a judge on Netflix's cooking competition show “Culinary Class Wars,” has sparked controversy after it was revealed that he used liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks indoors for frying.

Under the law, LPG tanks must be installed outdoors due to fire hazards.

In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel on May 6 last year, Paik was seen frying chicken bones using a custom-made fryer in Theborn Korea's test kitchen.

The video documented the creation of Jijia, a new dish for his franchise brand Paik's Beer. However, viewers noticed two LPG gas tanks connected directly to the fryer, supplying heat to the cooking equipment.

A concerned viewer filed a complaint against Paik via the national petition system on Sunday.

The complainant said, “The gas tanks are placed openly indoors, right next to cooking equipment, violating both the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Act and fire safety regulations. If a fire were to break out, the entire building could be at risk.”

According to the enforcement regulations of the Safety Control and Business of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Act, LPG tanks must be kept outdoors in well-ventilated areas. Violations can result in fines of up to 40 million won ($30,000).

Liquefied petroleum gas tanks are installed next to a deep fryer at Theborn Korea's test kitchen. Screenshot from Paik Jong-won's YouTube channel

In response, Theborn Korea insisted there were no safety issues during the video shoot.

A company representative told The Hankook Ilbo on Tuesday, “For the 15-minute menu test, all windows were fully opened for ventilation, fire extinguishers were on hand, and a gas safety manager was present.”

The company added, “We fully understand the concerns and will ensure strict safety management in future operations.”

Paik has been facing a series of controversies, including criticism that the pricing of his Paik Ham gift set for the Lunar New Year holiday was excessive.

In December 2023, a merchant from Yesan Market, a project Paik collaborated on with the Yesan County Office in South Chungcheong Province, accused Theborn Korea of forcing vendors to purchase the company's products at high prices, filing a complaint through the national petition system.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.