Meet the Star of ‘Culinary Class Wars’ Season 2: Chef Hou Dezu

1. A Living Legend: “Better Than Mainland China”

Chef Hou Dezu is the visionary who elevated Korean-Chinese cuisine to a world-class level.

• Global Acclaim: During his tenure at Shilla Hotel’s ‘Palsun,’ he received unprecedented praise from former Chinese Presidents Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, as well as former Premier Zhu Rongji, who remarked that his dishes were “even more exquisite than those in mainland China.”
• Best in Asia: Under his leadership, ‘Palsun’ was named one of the “Top 5 Best Restaurants in Asia” in 2000, putting Korean-Chinese fine dining on the global map.

2. The Myth of the “First Chef Executive”

In the Korean culinary world, he is a symbol of professional success and breaking barriers.

• Breaking Glass Ceilings: He is not just a chef; he made history as the first-ever culinary professional to be appointed as a high-ranking executive (Managing Director) at a major South Korean conglomerate (Samsung Group’s Shilla Hotel). This achievement fundamentally transformed the social status and career aspirations of chefs in Korea.

3. Current Masterpiece: Michelin-Starred ‘Hobin’ (호빈)

His legend continues to grow, even today.

• Michelin 1-Star Excellence: Currently, he serves as the Executive Chef of ‘Hobin’ (located at The Ambassador Seoul – A Pullman Hotel), which has been awarded 1 Michelin Star.
• Endless Innovation: Over a career spanning 50 years, he has developed more than 200 original recipes, proving that his creativity and passion remain as sharp as ever.

4. The Grandmaster Among Masters

When the “Four Great Schools of Korean-Chinese Cuisine” gathered in 2008, Chef Hou stood at the center as the most respected figure. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the masters who taught Korea’s current celebrity chefs like Lee Yeon-bok, he represents the absolute peak and orthodoxy of the craft.