Kwon Sung-jun proves the heart behind 'Napoli Matpia' nickname

Chef Kwon Sung-jun concluded the grand finale of 'Undercover Chef - Korea' with his signature confidence and charming personality. Although he faced a disappointing defeat in the final mission, what he gained was more valuable than the result: the trust he built within a local kitchen and his sincere devotion to Naples.

In the 10th episode of the tvN variety show 'Undercover Chef - Korea' aired on the 23rd, the program depicted Kwon's final challenge and the process of revealing his true identity to the local Italian kitchen staff.

Appearing as the final contestant, Kwon stood out from the moment he arrived. Even in a tense atmosphere, he displayed his characteristic composure and confidence, saying, "Everyone, just trust me."

All eyes were focused on his challenge, as he is the winner of the Netflix variety show 'Culinary Class Wars' and earned the nickname 'Napoli Matpia.'

Having narrowly avoided having his identity discovered several times previously, Kwon had already been recognized as a member of the local kitchen. Senior chef Paolo presented him with a chef's hat, signifying that he had become an official member of the staff.

However, there was a humorous moment when the hat turned out to be too small, leading to a mishap where he had to cut part of it with scissors to wear it. Despite this, the kitchen staff praised him, saying, "You're handsome" and "You're the best," to which Kwon responded with his signature slyness, "I know," turning the scene into a sea of laughter.

For the final mission, the main ingredient he chose was clams (Vongole), a staple of Italian pasta.

Kwon confidently began his challenge, stating, "This restaurant didn't have many pastas using clams or seafood."

However, an unexpected problem arose. Due to time constraints, the clams were not properly purged, resulting in sand being chewed in the dish.

In this moment of crisis, Kwon did not give up. He pivoted his approach by using only the clam broth and compensating for the lacking texture with fried breadcrumb toppings. The resulting dish was a so-called "Vongole without clams" pasta, which differed from typical Vongole.

Unexpectedly, the local chefs showed deep interest in this creative interpretation.

After tasting the dish, Antonio was reminded of a traditional Neapolitan dish called "Escaped Clam Pasta," which used only the scent of the sea to express the flavor of clams during his impoverished past. He evaluated it not as a simple failure, but as a dish that connected with the memories of Neapolitan food culture.

The management team also gave positive reactions, saying, "It tastes like clams," and even offered high praise, stating, "If you just adjust the spiciness, it's a 110-point dish."

However, Kwon's final move came after the food evaluation.

He boldly proposed, "Could you put my menu on the restaurant's menu later?"

The studio erupted in surprise at his directness. When Kim Pung asked, "Wasn't that just because the translation came out strong?" Kwon replied, "It was intentional," drawing more laughter.

Ultimately, the final result was a failure.

Owner Laura politely declined the request to launch the menu, saying, "It's not that it doesn't taste good, but it's not a dish that shows our restaurant's identity." This was not because Kwon's cooking was lacking, but because of the unique philosophy and direction of the local restaurant that has continued for decades.

Sam Kim and Jung Ji Sun, who had failed their missions earlier, added to the laughter by joking, "It's a relief all three of us failed," and "I thought he was going to succeed since he came out last."

But the true emotion came during the subsequent moment of identity reveal.

When Kwon revealed his identity and the fact that he is the winner of 'Culinary Class Wars,' the kitchen staff responded with surprise and cheers. In particular, Antonio, who had built a close relationship with him, showed deep friendship by saying, "This is not a farewell, but a promise to meet again," adding, "We are always here."

For Kwon, 'Undercover Chef - Korea' was not just a variety show challenge. Through the broadcast, he personally proved why he loves Naples and why he earned the name 'Napoli Matpia.'

In his final remarks, he stated, "People might know why I keep saying 'Napoli, Napoli,' but it's hard to understand exactly unless they actually see it. I'm glad I could show why I couldn't help but love Naples and why I became 'Napoli Matpia.'"

In the end, although Kwon did not win the final mission, he gained something more important: the realization that food is not completed by technique alone, but by the memories of a place and respect for people.