Controversy Over Wine Swap at Restaurant Charging KRW 420,000 Per Person... Seongjae An's "Mosu" Issues Official Apology

"Served a 2005 Vintage Instead of the 2000 Ordered"

"Brought Out the Correct Bottle When Asked for a Photo"

Mosu Apologizes: "We Sincerely Regret the Lack of Accurate Guidance"

Chef Seongjae An, who is well-known as a judge on Netflix's "Chef in Black & White," has officially apologized on behalf of his fine dining restaurant Mosu Seoul for the recent controversy surrounding a wine swap incident.

Owner chef Seongjae Ahn of 'Mosoo Seoul'. Official Instagram of Mosoo Seoul

On April 23, Mosu Seoul issued an official statement through its social networking service (SNS) account, saying, "We sincerely bow our heads and offer our apologies regarding the recent matter." Mosu Seoul stated, "During the wine pairing service on April 19, we failed to provide accurate guidance to our guest, which caused confusion. Furthermore, we did not offer sufficient explanation during our subsequent response, resulting in great disappointment. We sincerely apologize for this."

The restaurant continued, "After the incident, we offered a separate apology to the guest, and they graciously accepted it. However, considering the expectations placed on us, we acknowledge that our response was still insufficient." They added, "Chef Seongjae An and the entire Mosu team take this matter extremely seriously. We will thoroughly review all related services and pledge to prevent a recurrence. We promise not to settle for a performative apology but to rebuild trust with our guests through genuine sincerity."

"Served a 2005 Instead of a 2000"

Previously, a post alleging a wine swap at Mosu Seoul circulated online, sparking controversy. According to the post's author, a KRW 800,000 bottle of 2000 vintage wine was supposed to be served alongside Korean beef, but the sommelier mistakenly brought a 2005 vintage wine, which is KRW 100,000 cheaper. The author also claimed that the sommelier acted as if the 2000 vintage was being served, even though it was actually the 2005 vintage.

Mosu Seoul store. Mosu Seoul official Instagram

"Brought the Correct Bottle When Asked for a Photo"

The author further explained, "After being served the 2005 vintage wine, I tried to take a picture of the bottle, but the sommelier said 'just a moment' and went to the staff area. Then, the sommelier returned and placed the 2000 vintage bottle on the table." The author then asked the sommelier to clarify the situation. The sommelier reportedly replied, "The 2000 vintage bottle was on the first floor," and offered, almost as a favor, "I'll let you taste that product as well."

The author wrote, "Given that the 2000 vintage bottle was brought out as soon as I said I wanted to take a photo, it seems likely they were aware of the issue from the outset. I wonder if such a mistake is even possible from a sommelier at a Michelin two-star restaurant. Instead, they said, 'I'll let you taste it,' which was disappointing. There was no apology on the day of the incident, and their response was very lacking."

Mosu Seoul, which first opened in 2017, was the only restaurant in Korea to receive a Michelin Guide three-star rating in 2023, but closed due to relocation issues. It reopened in March of last year in Itaewon, Seoul, and regained its Michelin Guide status with a two-star rating just one year later, in March. The dinner price at this restaurant is around KRW 420,000 per person.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.