Ahn Sung Jae Wine Swap Scandal: Did He Cheat?

A controversy has arisen online following claims that an expensive vintage wine was switched and served at 'MooSoo Seoul,' a fine dining restaurant run by star chef Ahn Sung-jae.

A customer, identified as Ms. A, posted on an online community that she visited MooSoo Seoul to celebrate her birthday and ordered a bottle of 'Château Léoville Barton.' She claims the sommelier served her a 2005 vintage wine, even though her pairing list indicated a 2000 vintage wine.

Ms. A found the taste and aroma of the served wine to be different from her usual experience and decided to investigate. She alleges that when she asked for verification of the vintage, the sommelier changed his story, saying, "The 2000 bottle was on the first floor." She further claims that the sommelier only brought out the 2000 vintage bottle after she requested to take a photo, raising suspicions that he knew from the beginning that it was the wrong wine. The price difference between the two vintages is approximately 100,000 won.

Ms. A claims that a cheaper 2005 vintage was served instead of the ordered 2000 vintage, and that the sommelier, despite being aware of this, tried to brush it off without any apology. She expressed significant disappointment with the mistake at a two-Michelin-starred restaurant and the restaurant's response, which she described as an attempt to let her "taste it" without any apology.

Netizens who encountered this story are divided, with some stating, "As an expensive fine dining establishment, thorough service is essential," while others believe, "It doesn't seem like the MooSoo sommelier would have done it intentionally." The restaurant is reportedly currently preparing its official statement.