Choi Kang-rok

Choi Kang-rok (; born 1978) is a South Korean chef and restaurateur. In 2025, he won the second season of Culinary Class Wars as a White Spoon chef.

Early life At Jungsan High School, Choi played in a band as a drummer and wanted to be a professional musician.

Career

Restaurants Early in his life, Choi worked as a part-timer in kitchens to pay for music equipment. He then read the manga Mr. Sushi King, about a sushi chef, which led him to open, run, and subsequently close "Two failed sushi shops." Afterward, he moved to Japan, enrolled in its Tsuji Culinary Institute to study Culinary Technology Management, and learned the Japanese language.

Media In 2013, Choi won the second season of MasterChef Korea. He had applied "after seeing a commercial and during a night of drinking"; at the time, he was a tuna trader trying to pay off his debts from failed businesses.

In 2016, Choi appeared on What Shall We Eat Today – Delivery. In 2024, he was a recurring member of Please Take Care of My Refrigerator.

In 2025, Choi was the host of Netflix's Blank Menu for You. He also participated in the first season of Culinary Class Wars as a White Spoon but was eliminated in the team battle in the third round.

In 2026, Choi returned to Culinary Class Wars for its second season as a returning White Spoon. Having reached all the way to the finals, he cooked a soup, using sesame tofu and other favourite ingredients, along with a serving of soju, which clinched him a unanimous victory from judges Sung Anh and Paik Jong-won.

Books In 2023, Choi authored a cookbook titled Choi Kang-rok's Cooking Notes.

In 2025, he authored an essay collection called Cooking For Life.

Personal life Choi is married. He and his wife have a daughter.