Netflix’s cooking survival show, “Culinary Class Wars,” is set to return for a second season, the streaming platform said Tuesday.

Production for the second season is being prepared, with a goal of releasing the show in the second half of next year, Netflix said.


The upcoming season will once again be helmed by producers Kim Hak-min and Kim Eun-ji, who also led the first season.

“We are grateful to be able to move forward with a second season, and it’s all thanks to the viewers,” the two producers said in a press release.

“We will do our best to meet viewers’ expectations and repay the love [we’ve received].”

“Culinary Class Wars” first premiered on Sept. 17, and its final two episodes, which announced the show’s winner, aired on Oct. 8. The show pits 100 contestants from diverse culinary backgrounds — ranging from Michelin-starred chefs to school cafeteria cooks — against each other in a massive studio capable of hosting 40 professionals cooking simultaneously.

The cooking survival show gained global popularity, becoming the first Korean variety show to top Netflix’s global top 10 in the non-English TV series category for three consecutive weeks.


The chef contestants have also attracted massive public attention, with people flocking to their restaurants to try their food. The weekly average reservation rate for all the contestants' restaurants spiked by 148 percent since the show aired, according to restaurant reservation app CatchTable.

Additionally, domestic food and e-commerce industries are teaming up with star chefs from the show to launch exclusive meal kits and open pop-up stores. For example, convenience store chain GS25 released a line of precooked meals in collaboration with “Culinary Class Wars” contestants and CU launched a marron tiramisu product developed by the show’s winner, chef Napoli Matfia.

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]