A wine-switching incident at Michelin three-star fine-dining restaurant Mosu, run by chef Ahn Sung-jae, has revived attention on past controversies in South Korea’s fine-dining scene.
In recent days, online communities and social media have circulated a post criticizing what it called ongoing ethical lapses among sommeliers, while listing earlier disputes involving restaurants and wine service.
The post cited complaints tied to the handling of expensive wines and what it described as weak ethics inside some establishments. It said that at the then two-star Kwon Sook-soo, a sommelier was found guilty in a first trial and fined 7 million won for allegedly taking 106 bottles of the restaurant’s wine, with the case emerging after the person left to open a wine bar. It also claimed that at Vampire Weekend, a sommelier was caught drinking customers’ high-priced corkage wines out of sight, posting about it on social media, and that the business later changed its name.
The post also alleged that at the two-star Jungsikdang, a sommelier poured about 100 milliliters from a customer’s corkage wine worth about 900,000 won, saying it was “to taste later.” It added that Mosu, described as previously three-star and now two-star, was exposed for deceiving customers. The writer said it was embarrassing that the level of Seoul fine dining was being revealed repeatedly at a time when global attention is on Korea’s food boom.
The writer questioned whether a new direction could begin if Mosu closes after the latest incident, and criticized sommeliers who, the post said, focus on wine books rather than customers and end up causing problems.
After the post spread, commenters criticized what they saw as a breakdown of basic trust even at high-end restaurants.
Comments included comparisons to delivery workers accused of taking food, jokes that people would call them “corkscrews,” and remarks that hardworking professionals are being tarnished by a few bad actors, leading to insults ranging from neighborhood karaoke bars to “bottle openers.”
Meanwhile, Mosu’s Kakao Map page drew a wave of hostile comments.
Reviews included remarks such as, “Are you moving to Sogeopogu or Gwangjang Market?” and criticism that the restaurant did not apologize immediately and instead was “moderating” YouTube comments. Other posts said comments were being deleted, criticized “switching,” and questioned how long it had been happening.
One commenter said the issue could end quickly if an apology video were posted properly or if a penalty were imposed on the sommelier, adding frustration that the matter was being dragged out.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.