Chef Jeong Ji-sun Opens Up About Struggles as a Female Owner Chef

In the latest episode of KBS2's 'Boss's Ears Are Donkey Ears' (사장님 귀는 당나귀 귀), chef Jeong Ji-sun shared her emotional journey as a female owner chef in a male-dominated culinary world. During the show, she broke down in tears while discussing the challenges she faced in gaining recognition.

When fellow chef Kim Hee-eun mentioned that there are a few female owner chefs her age, Jeong expressed her envy, recalling her own struggles to find employment even after studying abroad. She revealed, "Most of the chefs in Chinese cuisine were men. I used to arrive at work two hours early, and I can't even count how many times I was hit with a ladle in the kitchen or bumped with a Chinese cleaver."

Jeong also recounted a painful incident where she had to get 30 stitches after injuring her hand in a machine, yet she continued to seek work out of fear of being fired. She shared that when she opened her restaurant, T&Mimi, she deliberately kept quiet about being a female owner chef due to the discrimination and territorial behavior from her male counterparts.

Reflecting on her past, she recalled, "There were seniors who said, 'Let's see how well you do.'" This memory brought her to tears, prompting host Jeon Hyun-moo to express surprise at seeing her cry, suggesting that those who doubted her might now feel ashamed.

Jeong concluded by stating, "If I had colleagues, seniors, or mentors to guide me back then, I might have received help. I felt so lonely." Her heartfelt revelations about the difficulties faced by female owner chefs will be aired in the full episode of 'Boss's Ears Are Donkey Ears' this Sunday at 4:40 PM KST.