Korean chef takes legal action against Michelin
A Korean chef, who refused to pay money to a “monetary consultant” allegedly working for Michelin Korea, has filed a complaint with the prosecution alleging fraud and attempted extortion amid growing questions over the authenticity of the local Michelin branch’s selection of Korean restaurants for its ratings guide.
In addition, Yun Kyoung-suk, the owner of Korean restaurant Yunga-Myunga, is also filing a libel complaint against the organization for its denunciation of her claims.
“When I planned to open a restaurant in 2014, Michelin contacted me and told me to open a restaurant meeting its regulations that it said would ensure Michelin stars,” Yun told The Korea Times.
“Regardless of any financial loss and mental pain, I have stepped up to stop Michelin from taking advantage of its fabricated authority through selling books in Korea.”
Yun made headlines with the claim that Michelin Korea had demanded bribes in exchange for a star rating.
According to Yun, Ernest Singer, a U.S. national known locally as the “Michelin broker,” told her to open a restaurant by a given date so as to ensure that it would receive a certain star rating.
“He told me to open a restaurant by November 2014, hinting that my restaurant would be star-rated,” she said. “He said that our restaurant in Japan got two Michelin stars and my restaurant in Korea could receive three stars if I made it look like a traditional one.”
However, this rosy scenario fell apart after Yun refused to pay 50 million won ($42,000) annually to be listed as well as cover the cost of airfares and accommodation for Michelin “inspectors.” After she questioned this “selection” process, her restaurant was not listed.
In response to Yun’s claim, Michelin Korea issued a statement saying that this was seriously hurting the Michelin Guide’s reputation and image as well as related restaurants.
“Michelin does not engage in consulting activities. It doesn’t ask for money in return for selection and the so-called consultant connected with the accusation has no contractual relations with Michelin,” the statement said.
It also said, “We met with Ernest Singer, who has been an importer of wine in Asia for more than 30 years, while Michelin Guide executives were interacting with various industry officials. But this is just part of our daily exchanges.”
Michelin also said it would take legal action against Yun. However, Yun is not backing down. “I listened to Michelin’s demands when preparing to open my restaurant because it said it wanted to play an important role in globalizing Korean food, no more, no less,” she said, adding that all of this, however, proved to be a fraud.
Yun has proposed that Michelin vindicate its activities in Korea by “fairly” selecting Korean restaurants for its guidebook.
“Michelin picked 60 Korean restaurants for its Bib Gourmand category in its 2020 Michelin Guide Seoul Selection. If so, they need to prove their inspectors came to Korea and paid for the meals themselves,” Yun said. Bib Gourmand restaurants mean the small restaurants selected by Michelin for their good value for money.
“What I need to find out is whether Michelin officials performed their duty in an appropriate way. If it shows all the receipts for the meals, planes and lodgings during their stay for inspections, all controversy linked to the selection would be finished.”
She also pointed out Michelin’s inconsistent standard for selection.
“According to foreign reporters, a restaurant that has been open for six months is eligible for an evaluation, but any restaurants that move their location are not qualified. But Michelin did not consider about those requirements at all,” Yun said.
Yun asked a fundamental question regarding the Michelin selection: “Who gave Michelin the authority to evaluate local restaurants that are time honored and loved by many people?”
Michelin Korea was not available for comment.