These days, saying no has become my main job. I’ve received many advertising offers, but I turned them all down. If I’m not careful, people might start seeing me as a celebrity. I must not lose the essence of being a monastic practitioner.”
Venerable Seonjae (70), who drew attention for her deep skill and flavors on the Netflix cooking competition show “Culinary Class Wars Season 2,” visited the Maeil Business Newspaper Media Center in Jung District, Seoul, on the 23rd. She had driven in from Yangpyeong County and was wearing a gray hat against the record-breaking cold. From the outset, the appearance of a Buddhist monk on a competitive audition program became a major talking point. At first, she also declined, saying, “It doesn’t feel right.” Instead, she advised the producers, “I hope you will feature a lot of Korean ingredients and fermented foods.” The production team earnestly urged her, saying, “Please come on the show yourself and show us.” After much encouragement from people around her, she changed her mind, thinking, “This is a chance to show my cooking philosophy in person.”
