The Genius Paik

Global Catering Business Challenge

Paik Jong-won takes on a new challenge to spread his brand and K-food abroad. Will he be able to make a successful business like he does in Korea?

Reality

Seasons

1. Going Abroad

Air Date: 2023-04-02

Paik Jong-won, the top restaurateur in Korea, suddenly finds himself in Africa! In a huge night market, Jong-won must compete with around 150 other stalls to set up a new food business. With only 72 hours and 3,000 dollars to get started, Jong-won scrambles to find his footing from the start. With Lee Jang-woo and BamBam flying in from Korea to help him, they must get their food stall up and running.

2. Unexpected Hurdles In Running A Business Abroad

Air Date: 2023-04-09

CEO Paik and his employees get off to a good start at their Korean food stall in a famous night market in Marrakech. However, they soon face some unexpected hurdles and are forced to shut down their stall. The next day, the production crew busily searches for a new location to set up shop, and CEO Paik anxiously waits to find out if they can open their business again.

3. The Second Day At The New Location

Air Date: 2023-04-16

Since having to move to the new location, CEO Paik and his crew are off to a great start. Selling out their ingredients for the night, the group goes home feeling satisfied with their sales. The second day at their new location arrives, and Jong Won believes this day is the most crucial. However, things do not seem as lively as they were the night before.

4. The Last Day In Africa

Air Date: 2023-04-23

CEO Paik opens for business on the last day in Africa. They aim to sell as much food as they can during the peak time in the markets of Morocco. Will their last day of selling tteokgalbi burgers and braised galbi be a success? Meanwhile, CEO Paik gets dropped off in Italy, the second country he will be opening a restaurant. How will he fare in Naples, where there are no Korean restaurants at all?

5. The First Day In Naples

Air Date: 2023-04-30

CEO Paik and Jang-woo arrive in Naples to start their new restaurant in a city that has never had a Korean restaurant before. With John Park and Yu-ri joining them, the preparations to open up their shop goes quite smoothly. However, opening day arrives, and they have trouble getting customers to come in and try the unfamiliar cuisine.

6. The Second Day in Naples

Air Date: 2023-05-07

After a rather disappointing first day of sales in Naples, CEO Paik and the crew make some changes to the way they run the business. They take customer feedback into consideration to add to the drinks menu and even film a video to show the customers how to properly enjoy the spicy pork meal with ssam. Will the second day be better and give their sales a boost?

7. The Third Day in Naples

Air Date: 2023-05-14

Baekbanjip’s second day of sales goes better than the first, but the rise in sales only stokes the fire of competitive spirit in the staff. As they open up for the third day, CEO Paik has some more marketing strategies up his sleeve. As things get busier than they expected, the staff start to encounter some new challenges as well. Lastly, a surprise guest appears while the staff prepare for dinnertime.

8. The Fourth Day in Naples

Air Date: 2023-05-21

Baekbanjip sets a new record for sales on the third day. While they prepare to have dinner themselves, Kim Min Jae, the legendary defender of the soccer team in Naples, comes to the restaurant. As the staff at Baekbanjip are starstruck by the star soccer player, Kim Min Jae is also starstruck by the celebrity staff. Meanwhile, the fourth day of sales starts off, and it’s the busiest day ever.

9. The Fifth Day in Naples

Air Date: 2023-05-28

Baekbanjip finally reaches its goal of being the number-one restaurant in the area after a successful fourth day. On the fifth day, CEO Paik decides to open up for dinner, which will help them make a lot more money. However, they must try out a new system in the kitchen and hall so they don’t become overwhelmed like they did the day before. Will the new strategy work out?

10. The Sixth Day in Naples

Air Date: 2023-06-04

Baekbanjip’s fifth day comes to a close with their first successful dinner. However, seeing their rank in sales go down again, CEO Paik is determined to boost sales once more. In order to increase their table turnover rates, the staff implement some changes, such as a quick and unified menu, a new system for customers to line up outside, and staff positions in the kitchen and hall.

11. Breaking the Sales Record

Air Date: 2023-06-11

As the Baekbanjip Avengers continue serving gukbap meals like hotcakes, they expect to see the highest sales record to date. However, nobody expects just how big a hit it will be. Meanwhile, the employees grow tired from working nonstop for six days straight and demand that they get some time off. CEO Paik agrees, but he also has another trick up his sleeve to get the crew back to work.

12. A Disappointing Sunday

Air Date: 2023-06-18

CEO Paik opens Baekbanjip on a Sunday evening despite the staff’s protests. However, everything seems to be going wrong. The streets are empty, and the weather doesn’t cooperate with them either. With the last day of sales dawning on them, the Baekbanjip Avengers must come up with a plan to finish the day strong and meet the goal of creating a restaurant with annual sales of 500,000 dollars.

13. The Last Day

Air Date: 2023-06-25

The Baekbanjip Avengers work hard until the very end of their last day of sales as they try to make enough to reach their goal. As they start to run out of ingredients, CEO Paik uses his genius skills to make as much money as they can with everything they have left. After a tearful goodbye, the cast members gather again in Seoul to share their memories.

1. CEO Paik Lands On The City Of Stars

Air Date: 2023-10-29

Before they open, CEO Paik goes to scout and finds that the restaurant is in terrible condition. After looking around, he decides to renovate it in bright yellow. Meanwhile, actor Lee Kyu Hyong joins as a new member and shows off his bartending skills. They finally open, but have a hard time attracting guests and they even let the first guest drink for free since it’s their culture to do so.

2. Bait

Air Date: 2023-11-05

As the first day didn’t go as well as they hoped, CEO Paik decides to use free steamed eggs as bait to lure customers in. They also change the vibe by using table cloth and napkins. Meanwhile, when CEO Paik hears about opening a franchise, he absolutely refuses since the location of the restaurant isn’t satisfactory.

3. The Counter-attack Of The 5th place

Air Date: 2023-11-12

It’s the Bantxu’s first weekend and the members are hyped. Things seem to go well, but the endless customers give John a breakdown and he ends up making several mistakes. To help, Kyu Hyong helps with the cleaning while the other members wait on the customers. But they face an even bigger problem when they run out of dishes to sell.

4. Gimbap Nightmare

Air Date: 2023-11-19

Bantxu adds gimbap on the menu to boost sales. However, due to the different types of rice, the gimbap keeps bursting, resulting in Yu Ri’s breakdown. They try to cook the rice again, but it takes too long so they offer the waiting customers free skewers on the house. Meanwhile, a customer orders a gluten free dish which they don’t have on the menu and CEO Paik creates a new dish on the spot.

5. Branch

Air Date: 2023-11-26

Bantxu finally places in the top three and opens a second branch and new members join to help. A Michelin star chef, Fabri joins the second branch while Bartender Hyoyeon and multilingual waiter Eric join the first branch. Kyu Hyong is sent to the kitchen while John is sent to the second branch to help out. Meanwhile, Paik will be going back and forth to keep an eye on both restaurants.

6. Manager Lee Jang Woo

Air Date: 2023-12-03

Jang Woo finally makes his debut as a new manager. He works hard to become like Mr. Paik and achieve his business goals. To increase the sales, he even decides to change the work hours. How will Manager Jang Woo’s debut pan out? Stay tuned to find out!

7. Make 1,000 Servings A Day

Air Date: 2023-12-10

Their mission is to have the top sales in San Sebastian. To meet their goal, they need to sell 1,000 servings today. Preparing the ingredients for 1,000 servings is not easy at all. There are thousands of people coming to the alley for pintxo pote on Thursday night. Will they be able to sell 1,000 servings smoothly?

8. One Thousand Servings, Part 2

Air Date: 2023-12-17

As 8pm rolls around, the crowd at Bantxu increases tremendously. The staff work as fast as they can, but it is barely enough to deal with the number of customers. Their strategy to sell 1,000 servings is to have a fast turnover rate. However, with Hyoyeon manning the drinks alone, things get a little out of hand. Thankfully, Kyu Hyong joins her to help with bartending.

9. Secret Inspector

Air Date: 2023-12-31

The members experience a mixture of emotions after a hectic night of Pintxo Pote. Their sales get revealed after their hard work. Without much time to rest, the next day comes. This time, a special guest visits both restaurants and thoroughly inspects them. Will the members be able to satisfy this secret guest? Stay tuned to find out!

10. Weekend Strategy

Air Date: 2024-01-07

The employees worked very hard for the seventh day of business along with CEO Paik. However, after checking the sale results, CEO Paik demands a change for the increase of sales. He deploys his new strategy that perfectly fits the weekend. Will his plan bring a positive change? Stay tuned to find out!

11. Young Men’s Cart Bar

Air Date: 2024-01-14

Jang Woo, John, and Kyu Hong passionately start their cart bar at the second branch. They introduce new menus along with a special signature menu to attract customers. The first branch suffers as the course meal serving becomes chaotic. How will the two branches of Bantxu manage? Stay tuned to find out!

12. The Law of Conservation of Crisis

Air Date: 2024-01-21

CEO Paik and the employees worked very hard to reach a new record in sales. They get shocked by the results revealed. After learning from their mistakes from the previous day of business, the two branches use a new strategy along with new menus. However, as one branch does well, the other branch falls into crisis.

13. The Curse of Jokbal

Air Date: 2024-01-28

The young men face a big crisis with the curse of jokbal. Even after the call with CEO Paik, the streets seem empty in front of the second branch. CEO Paik makes a big call to help out with the second branch and moves everyone over. How will things pan out with CEO Paik’s big move?

14. The Final Winning Move

Air Date: 2024-02-04

The final day in San Sebastian has come. CEO Paik decides to run his business with everyone at the first branch. He unleashes his final strategy to break a new record in sales.

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