Ahn Sungjae's 4-Part Response Criticized

A "wine swapping controversy" has erupted at 'Mosu Seoul,' a Michelin 2-star restaurant run by Chef An Sung-jae. The restaurant is now facing a second wave of backlash after its subsequent apology also drew criticism. The apology has been dubbed a "four-part apology" (四課文) for lacking details on the core incident, disciplinary actions, and preventative measures.

The controversy began on the 21st when a post titled "I was subjected to wine vintage swapping at Mosu Seoul" appeared on an online community. The poster, identified as A, claimed that on the 18th, while using the wine pairing service at Mosu Seoul, they were served a 2005 vintage wine, which was about 100,000 won cheaper, instead of the 2000 vintage wine that was scheduled. The sommelier, despite being aware of the issue, initially responded by offering to let them taste other vintages instead of apologizing immediately. According to A, the 2000 vintage bottle only appeared after their party requested to see the wine bottle. The incident quickly gained traction online, especially given that it occurred at a high-end restaurant where a single meal costs approximately 420,000 won per person.

Mosu Seoul issued an apology on its official social media account on the 23rd, stating, "We apologize for the confusion caused to our customers due to inaccurate information provided during the wine pairing service on the 18th." They added, "We have already apologized to the customer separately after the incident occurred, and they graciously accepted our apology. However, we deeply apologize once again."

However, criticism intensified immediately after the apology was released. Critics argued that the apology downplayed the incident as a mere lack of information by omitting the core phrase "wine swapping" and failing to acknowledge intentional deception. Furthermore, the restaurant claimed that the customer's party received an apology on-site that day and "graciously accepted" it, but the accuser, A, stated they did not receive an apology at the time, creating a discrepancy in the facts.

Additionally, the apology lacked details regarding disciplinary actions against the sommelier, compensation for the victim, and specific measures to prevent recurrence, leading to numerous criticisms. Netizens commented, "Chef An Sung-jae's handling of controversies has always been disappointing," "A high-end fine dining establishment is built on trust, and this is a letdown," and "Where are the fundamentals and completeness that were emphasized on broadcast?" Some netizens urged Mosu Seoul to release further statements, saying, "​If they claim it wasn't wine swapping, they need to provide a separate explanation."