Kyochon Food & Beverage CEO Song Jong-hwa poses with Kim Woo-cheol, master from the Yongin No. 2 store, who won the Grand Master Award. [Kyochon Food & Beverage]
Kyochon Food & Beverage CEO Song Jong-hwa poses with Kim Woo-cheol, master from the Yongin No. 2 store, who won the Grand Master Award. [Kyochon Food & Beverage]

Kyochon Food & Beverage held its first nationwide franchise cooking competition, "Kyochon Cooking Masters," on Monday at Mokgye Yangdogwan in Osan, Gyeonggi Province.

The competition was open to franchise owners and employees across the country with at least one year of cooking experience. Six finalists advanced from preliminary rounds held July 6 through July 17. Kyochon Food & Beverage CEO and Vice Chairman Song Jong-hwa also attended.

Finalists prepared three whole-chicken dishes using the brand's soy sauce, red and honey sauces. Judges from Kyochon's R&D center, advisory committee and executive team evaluated each dish on adherence to standard recipes, taste and flavor, and overall quality.

The Yongin No. 2 store claimed the top Grand Master Award, while the Yulha store in South Gyeongsang Province took second place with the Master Award. A total of 13 million won in prize money and commendations were awarded across all categories, including third-place excellence prizes and fourth- through sixth-place encouragement prizes. Winning stores will receive a plaque designating them as "cooking quality excellence" franchises, and the top finisher was given the title of "master" — a first in Kyochon's history.

Kyochon said it plans to use the competition to identify skilled cooking talent and raise culinary standards across its franchise network. A company official said the chain would keep working to ensure customers can enjoy the same Kyochon taste and quality at any store across the country.

Judges from Kyochon's headquarters evaluate dishes prepared during the competition. [Kyochon Food & Beverage]
Judges from Kyochon's headquarters evaluate dishes prepared during the competition. [Kyochon Food & Beverage]

andy@heraldcorp.com