Hoban Group treats employees to special lunch crafted by 'Culinary Class Wars' chef An Yu-seong

Hoban Group held a special in-house dining event Tuesday to help employees recharge during the summer heat.

The conglomerate hosted the "summer gourmet" lunch at its headquarters cafeteria in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday, the company announced Wednesday. The event was organized to boost morale and restore energy for staff worn down by the sweltering weather, with chef An Yu-seong — known for his appearance on the Netflix cooking survival show "Culinary Class Wars" — personally designing the entire menu.

The special meal featured An's signature dongchimi naengmyeon (cold noodles in radish water kimchi broth) and Namdo-style bulgogi. Side dishes including kimchi buckwheat crepes and seasoned bean sprout and water parsley salad were also served.

An visited the cafeteria in person to serve the food and greet employees. Staff responded warmly, with the company saying employees remarked that it was "great to be able to taste a culinary master's cooking right at work" and that it was "an energizing lunch in the middle of the summer heat."

An was named South Korea's 16th "culinary master" — a government-designated title recognizing elite chefs — in 2023. He operates restaurants including Gamaeilsik and Gwangjuok 1947, and raised his public profile through "Culinary Class Wars," where he showcased the depth of Namdo cuisine and his cooking philosophy.

Hoban Group's hospitality arm, Hoban Hotels & Resorts, has been rolling out a range of food and beverage content through special cafeteria events and gourmet programs at its Risom Resort properties. The company has collaborated with popular brands including Mongtan, Elephant Bagel and Oakberry Acai, and has previously worked with star chefs Kim Mi-ryeong, Kim Byeong-muk and Kim Seong-un on culinary events.

"We partnered with Samsung Welstory to invite culinary master An Yu-seong and put together a special gourmet experience so our employees could find renewed energy through a delicious meal this summer," a Hoban Group official said. "We will continue to offer diverse culinary content that both employees and customers can enjoy."