Jo Woo-jong Passes Western Cuisine Cooking Certification...Becomes Korea's First 'Announcer Chef'

Former announcer and broadcaster Jo Woo-jong has obtained the Western Cuisine Cooking Certification, becoming Korea's first 'Announcer Chef'. He is drawing attention for successfully taking on a new challenge at the age of nearly 50.

On the 21st, Jo Woo-jong shared a post on his Instagram saying, "Thank you for the congratulations! I passed the Western Cuisine Cooking Certification!" along with a photo of the certification. The photo clearly shows the certification with Jo Woo-jong's name on it.

Jo Woo-jong expressed the difficulty of obtaining the certification, stating, "Now that I've prepared for it, I understand why people say that cooking certifications are harder than the bar exam." He recalled, "The practical exam was particularly challenging, as it was really tough to complete the cooking perfectly within the time limit."

He continued, "I think I understand why my seniors Jeon Hyun-moo and Oh Sang-jin also failed when they challenged it." In fact, broadcasters Jeon Hyun-moo and Oh Sang-jin had previously attempted to obtain the cooking certification on a variety show but experienced failures. Notably, Jeon Hyun-moo had attempted multiple times but consistently failed, which became a topic of discussion.

Jo Woo-jong gained popularity from his time as an announcer due to his excellent speaking skills and intellectual image. He joined KBS as part of the 31st public recruitment in 2005 and has worked as an announcer on various programs.

In particular, Jo Woo-jong stood out in sports commentary and news hosting, receiving love from viewers for his stable hosting skills. After leaving KBS, he has been active as a freelance broadcaster, appearing on various entertainment programs.