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The Korea Times

By Kang Seung-woo
A Korean chef, who refused to pay money to a “monetary consultant” allegedly working for Michelin Korea, has filed a complaint with prosecutors 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-Myungga in Seoul, is filing a libel complaint against the organisation 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 says. “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 her claim that Michelin Korea had demanded bribes in exchange for a star rating. According to Yun, Ernest Singer, a US 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 says. “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 (US$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.”
Who gave Michelin the authority to evaluate local restaurants that are time-honoured and loved by many people?
South Korean chef Yun Kyoung-suk
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 globalising Korean food, no more, no less,” she says, 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 says. Bib Gourmand restaurants are 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 standards 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 says.
Yun asked a fundamental question regarding the Michelin selection: “Who gave Michelin the authority to evaluate local restaurants that are time-honoured and loved by many people?”
Michelin Korea was not available for comment.
Read the original Korea Times story here
 



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Yun Kyoung-suk alleges she was told paying bribes and covering costs of visit to Korea by Michelin ‘inspectors’ would see her restaurant listed
Michelin denies her allegations and has threatened legal action against Yun



Yun Kyoung-suk alleges she was told paying bribes and covering costs of visit to Korea by Michelin ‘inspectors’ would see her restaurant listed in Seoul Michelin guide. Michelin threatens to counter-sue chef.


South Korea

Korea Times

South Korea Michelin stars-for-bribe claim: chef files case against guide publisher, sues for libel, after alleging she asked to pay US$42,000 for a star rating

Yun Kyoung-suk alleges she was told paying bribes and covering costs of visit to Korea by Michelin ‘inspectors’ would see her restaurant listed Michelin denies her allegations and has threatened legal action against Yun

Yun Kyoung-suk alleges she was told paying bribes and covering costs of visit to Korea by Michelin ‘inspectors’ would see her restaurant listed

Michelin denies her allegations and has threatened legal action against Yun