Netflix's Hit Korean Show 'Culinary Class Wars' Allegedly Copied by Chinese Streaming Platform
Tencent Video launches cooking competition with striking similarities to global Netflix success, sparking plagiarism controversy and cultural appropriation debate.
Chinese Show Mirrors Netflix Format Without Permission
Tencent Video's "Yi Fan Feng Shen" (一饭封神), which premiered on July 17, 2025, has drawn criticism for allegedly copying Netflix's Korean cooking sensation "Culinary Class Wars" without authorization.
The original show, which premiered on September 17, 2024, became the first Korean unscripted series to reach No. 1 on Netflix's Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) list for three consecutive weeks. It features 100 chefs competing for ₩300 million, divided between 20 elite "White Spoon" veterans and 80 "Black Spoon" newcomers.
Identical Elements Raise Copyright Concerns
The Chinese version mirrors key elements of the original:
- Competition Structure: 16 professional chefs versus 84 rookies, maintaining the black-and-white uniform scheme
- Stage Design: Celebrity chefs observing battles from elevated positions, identical to the Korean format
- Challenge Format: One-on-one matchups between "black" and "white" chefs with public taste-test evaluations
Even Chinese viewers criticized the similarities, with Weibo comments stating "The set is identical, and the format is a complete copy" and "Did they just steal everything?"
Netflix Denies Licensing Deal
Netflix confirmed on July 24: "We have not sold the format rights to Culinary Class Wars to any Chinese company" and stated they are "currently discussing appropriate action."
This marks a significant escalation in content piracy disputes, as Netflix is not officially available in China due to the country's internet restrictions and censorship policies.
Cultural Misrepresentation Adds Fuel to Fire
Beyond format copying, the Chinese show sparked additional controversy by misrepresenting Korean cultural elements. During kimchi preparation scenes, the program allegedly referred to the traditional Korean dish as "paocai" (泡菜), a different Chinese pickled vegetable from Sichuan province.
Professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University, a cultural preservation advocate, condemned this misrepresentation as part of ongoing "cultural appropriation projects" by China targeting Korean heritage items including kimchi and hanbok.
Broader Pattern of Cultural Disputes
This incident reflects growing tensions, with experts noting that "anti-China sentiment among Koreans has been lingering for a long time, but recent conflicts are being amplified much faster" due to social media.
Previous controversies have included Chinese claims about the origins of various Korean cultural elements, with China's state media and platforms like Baidu suggesting Korean dishes originated in China.
Global Impact and Industry Response
The original "Culinary Class Wars" achieved remarkable success, garnering 3.8 million views in its first week and appearing in Top 10 lists across 18 countries. Netflix confirmed a second season renewal on October 15, 2024.
The plagiarism allegations highlight growing challenges in protecting intellectual property across borders, particularly when streaming platforms face different regulatory environments. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos previously revealed that "not a single episode" of Netflix content cleared China's censorship board during three years of attempts to enter the market.
What This Means for Content Creators
This controversy underscores the vulnerability of successful formats to unauthorized copying, especially in markets where original platforms cannot operate. As Korean content continues gaining global popularity, protection of intellectual property rights becomes increasingly critical for creators and distributors.
The entertainment industry will be watching Netflix's response closely, as it could set precedents for how major platforms handle format theft in the digital streaming era.
