Celebrity chef and entrepreneur Baek Jong Won is under fire for allegations of abusive conduct during his TV appearances. Former MBC producer Kim Jae-hwan spoke out on the online platform Maebulshow about Baek's reported verbal mistreatment of staff and his misuse of influence in the broadcasting industry.

Kim revealed that Baek's behavior has been widely known within the media industry for some time. He claimed that Baek frequently mistreated production team members and leveraged his connections with broadcasting executives to control casting decisions and silence critics.

Kim highlighted Baek's questionable business practices, citing concerns about the lack of support for franchisees under The Born Korea and reports of coercive tactics against store owners. In this recent interview, the focus was on Baek's actions in the broadcast sector.

One incident involved singer Kim Ho Joong, where Baek allegedly contacted an SBS producer to oppose the singer's appearance on the show Delicious Rendezvous, citing competition for ratings even though Kim was not involved in any rival program at the time.

Kim expressed worry that such actions by Baek could harm less-known entertainers' career prospects by influencing decision-making behind the scenes.

Additionally, Kim mentioned a situation where a university professor lightly criticized a segment featuring Baek, resulting in the professor being removed from a program after Baek applied pressure. Kim stated that Baek frequently used harsh language towards production teams, admitted to swearing, and staff members at The Born Korea shared similar experiences of verbal abuse.

Despite personal appeals to Baek to change his conduct, he continued his abusive behavior towards staff, influencing casting decisions, and pressuring individuals to be removed from shows.

Following multiple allegations and ongoing police investigations, Baek issued an apology on May 6, taking responsibility for his actions and announcing a halt to all TV activities except those already in production. He pledged to reform his company internally, improve communication with staff, and admitted to any harm caused by his actions. Calls for accountability are growing as more information surfaces, questioning Baek's reputation as both a public figure and business leader.