Paik Jong-won maintains bond with 'Les Misérables' disciples

Paik Jong-won, the CEO of Theborn Korea, who has been absent from the broadcasting industry for some time, has reunited with his disciples. Son Woo-sung, Kim Kook-heon, and Yang Kyung-min, who formed a bond through the ENA variety program 'Paik Jong-won's Les Misérables,' have drawn attention by sharing photos with Paik, revealing a special relationship that continues even after the program's conclusion.

The three individuals recently shared photos taken with Paik on social media. They were seen smiling brightly in a relaxed atmosphere, making finger hearts and giving thumbs up. This scene demonstrates that the mentor-disciple relationship, which involved exchanging strict advice during the broadcast, did not end as a one-time connection through a variety program.

'Paik Jong-won's Les Misérables' was a 12-episode cooking survival variety show broadcast from November 2024 to February 2025. The purpose was to teach cooking and business skills to 20 challengers who had experienced various failures and frustrations, ultimately providing them with a foundation to support themselves.

The program's characteristics differed from simple cooking competitions. Challengers not only faced technical tasks such as pork butchery and cooking but also learned business sense by dealing with customers at the actual Yesan Market. While Paik sometimes shouted, he emphasized the necessary attitude and desperation required for business, and during the actual mission process, Yang, Son, and Kim showed significant growth.

In particular, the backgrounds of Son, Kim, and Yang aligned with the program's planning intention of providing a 'second chance.' Son, a former special forces soldier, experienced business failure; Kim experienced the setbacks of idol activities; and Yang, a former Hanwha Eagles pitcher, sought a new career path after finishing his life as a baseball player.

Even after the broadcast ended, their paths remained connected to Yesan Market. Immediately after the program concluded, some participants were introduced operating restaurants within Yesan Market, and Son personally announced that he had started a new business in Yesan Market. This is meaningful in that 'Les Misérables' was not merely a survival show consuming the stories of the participants, but an experiment that led to real-world livelihoods.

Son expressed his gratitude on his account, stating, "With the help of CEO Paik Jong-won, I am making a new start in Yesan Market with my Les Misérables brothers." This draws more attention as it is a case of actual economic activity following the program, rather than just a comment intended for emotional impact on screen.

Despite his illustrious background as a former member of 'Produce 101,' Kim is also someone who experienced the ups and downs of idol life. Yang also challenged an entirely different field, the food service industry, after setting aside his professional identity as a professional baseball player. These individuals, each with different experiences of failure, came to seek the possibility of a new livelihood through the common denominator of Paik.

In this process, it is also difficult to overlook the regional economic revitalization model that Paik has built in Yesan Market. While Yesan Market was once cited as a typical example of a declining traditional market, it transformed into a local landmark combining food and tourism as Paik, along with Yesan County, developed the market plaza and other areas. According to reports from 2026, Yesan Market has grown into a tourist destination with approximately 80 stores operating and cumulative visitors exceeding 10,000,000.

Therefore, the settlement of the 'Les Misérables' cast in Yesan Market can be seen as an extension of the regional coexistence project promoted by Paik. This is because more important than temporary promotion using a celebrity's name is whether someone can actually make a living in that space and redesign their life after failure.

Paik himself announced a suspension of his broadcasting activities last year as various controversies surrounding Theborn Korea surfaced. At the time, Paik stated his position to suspend all broadcasting activities except for programs currently being filmed, focusing instead on his main business and company innovation.

Subsequently, some controversies entered a new phase through legal proceedings. For instance, regarding allegations of false origin labeling, Paik personally was not sent to prosecution as the police determined it was difficult to recognize the charges, while Theborn Korea as a corporation and two employees were sent to the prosecution. Some matters raised regarding violations of the Food Sanitation Act were also closed.

However, the controversies surrounding Paik before his broadcasting hiatus have not all vanished. Public perception of Paik remains complex, caught between his identities as a businessman and a broadcaster. This is due to the significant gap between the friendly image created on screen and the strict responsibility required in corporate management.

In this context, the reunion with the 'Les Misérables' disciples holds special meaning. To Paik, they are not merely contestants consumed for viewership ratings, but individuals to whom he personally passed on technical and business expertise. The fact that his disciples seek out their mentor to express gratitude even after the show ends proves that this relationship was not merely a construct of a television frame.

Ultimately, the most significant legacy of 'Paik Jong-won's Les Misérables' is not found in who won. The true answer lies in whether those who experienced failure and frustration returned to the real market to start businesses under their own names.

Even as Paik remains away from the forefront of broadcasting, the connections forged in 'Les Misérables' continue within the real-world space of Yesan Market. If disciples continue to thank their mentor and his teachings lead to real livelihoods even after the cameras stop rolling, then that is the most practical realization of the 'second chance' the program aimed to provide.