[MyDaily = Reporter Kim Jin-seok] Chef Ahn Seong-jae of Mosu finally spoke publicly 18 days into the controversy.
On May 6, Ahn posted on his social channels: "I sincerely apologize again for the inadequate service at my restaurant, Mosu, which caused disappointment. I deeply apologize to the guests who felt particularly let down by this incident."
He added, "I accept full responsibility for everything that happened at Mosu. However, because misunderstandings that don't reflect the facts seem to be spreading, I feel obligated to explain in detail how this occurred."
"We followed company policy by asking the sommelier involved to submit a written statement, and we have removed them from the role of serving guests' wines. I promise we will tighten oversight and take every possible step to prevent a recurrence," he wrote.
A blogger recently posted that they were served the wrong vintage during a meal at Mosu. According to the post, the wine-pairing menu listed Château Léoville Barton 2000, but the sommelier brought a 2005 vintage. Noticing the wine tasted and smelled different, the guest asked for confirmation. The sommelier reportedly replied that a 2000 bottle was on the first floor and offered to let them taste the 2000 vintage as well.
The blogger wrote that they didn't want to spoil the atmosphere, so they accepted the service at the time. At Mosu, the two vintages differed by 100,000 KRW (approximately 75 USD). When the guest asked to take a photo, the sommelier said, "Just a moment," and then brought the 2000 bottle—suggesting they were already aware of the discrepancy. The blogger questioned whether a sommelier at a two-Michelin-star restaurant would make such an error.
This is Ahn Seong-jae.
I sincerely apologize again for the inadequate service at my restaurant, Mosu, which caused disappointment. I deeply apologize to the guests who felt particularly let down by this incident.
I accept full responsibility for everything that happened at Mosu. Because misunderstandings that don't reflect the facts seem to be spreading, I feel obliged to explain in detail how this occurred.
Below is what we confirmed from internal CCTV about staff movement and wine service on April 18. Please excuse the longer explanation. Four guests were seated at the table. One person ordered the seven-glass pairing, and three ordered the four-glass pairing. The seven-glass pairing called for Domaine du Collier, La Charpentrie Rouge 2014; the four-glass pairing called for Château Léoville Barton, Saint-Julien 2000.
However, the sommelier assigned to the table mistakenly served Château Léoville Barton 2005 instead of the 2000 and introduced it as the 2005. After giving the description, the staff realized the wrong wine had been served but did not notify the guests. When the guests asked to photograph the wine label, the staff wrongly decided the photo should show the correct vintage. Instead of explaining the situation first, they presented a 2000 bottle that differed from what had been served.
For context, the Château Léoville Barton 2000 intended for the pairing was stored in the second-floor back-of-house wine area, and the 2005 was also available there to be served by the glass. This area—split between the first and second floors—is where the sommelier checks temperature and condition just before serving. Because both bottles were side by side in the second-floor storage that day, the sommelier initially served the 2005 by mistake and later brought the 2000 from that area when a photo was requested.
After showing the 2000 bottle for the photo, the sommelier left the table to inform the assistant manager. While they were away, a hanwoo (Korean beef) dish was served and the food reached the guests before the issue was resolved. The guests then raised the wine concern directly.
The sommelier returned but, flustered, failed to explain the situation clearly or offer a proper apology. Instead, they improvised and gave inaccurate statements—such as claiming a 2000 bottle had been ordered and was on the first floor. Those comments were plainly incorrect and inappropriate.
When we later re-poured the 2000 vintage, the sommelier still did not fully grasp the seriousness of the mistake and said something like, "You study wine, so maybe you can compare the 2000 and 2005 vintages because of my error." That was an inappropriate remark; a clear explanation and sincere apology should have come first.
The front-of-house manager received only a partial report and, after confirming whether the 2000 vintage had been re-served, instructed staff to offer a dessert wine. Although the four-glass pairing doesn't normally include a dessert wine (Madeira), we provided Madeira to the three guests who ordered the four-glass pairing as an apology for the service lapse and poor handling.
The front-of-house team believed the matter had been resolved, and I received a report on April 21 after my scheduled days off. Even if I did not notice the problem on April 18, that is not an excuse. Looking back, we failed at multiple points—from the initial mistake to our response—and I understand how disappointed the guests were given the level of service they expected from Mosu.
I have reviewed the facts carefully with staff and CCTV footage. I share this account not as an excuse, but to correct distortions and misunderstandings that stray from the basic facts.
We required the sommelier to submit a written statement under company policy and removed them from the role of serving customers' wines. As the owner-chef who takes full responsibility for Mosu, I promise to manage operations tightly and take every measure to prevent a recurrence.
We will use this incident to return to the restaurant's core values and to the right attitude expected of foodservice professionals. We will remain humble and committed to our food and our guests. My team and I will do our best, sincerely. Once again, on behalf of myself and Mosu, I apologize for the disappointment we caused.
Most Read News
'Pregnant at 47' Han Da-gam becomes the oldest mom, receives an outpouring of gifts and says she feels a new sense of responsibility
Who is Beyoncé? A 14-year-old daughter so strikingly like her mom she looks like a twin—could she be the next fashion icon? [International]
Jung Ho-yeon barely covers up in a daring look—proof she's truly a global star
