MasterChef opens Korean cooks audition

MasterChef, a competitive cooking game show that has gained popularity in over 30 countries, has opened the registration for auditions in Korea through Dec. 31. All are welcome to try out.

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The winner will receive 300 million won and support for future endeavors from the production.

The show will air in April, 2011 on O'live, a lifestyle channel on cable. MasterChef first aired on BBC, a British channel, in 1990 and has become an international blockbuster. Last year, Britain's Season 6 attracted 46 million viewers.

Across many seasons in different countries, the format of the show has developed.

In some episodes the contestants have to prepare dishes with given ingredients from a mystery box and present them to the judges.
In others, the judges test the chefs knowledge on food and preparation skills. Sometimes, the contestants have to work in teams to complete tasks such as catering for a wedding. In Australia, the show aired a junior and a celebrity season. The participants face weekly eliminations until only one is named MasterChef.

Director Shin Jong-su from O'live said food is so closely related to our daily lives, making it a friendlier challenge for people to audition for compared to dancing or singing.

He hopes to attract a diverse mix of contestants like the programs overseas.

To sign up for the audition, call 1666-5353 or visit www.lifestyle.co.kr. jhdo@koreatimes.co.kr

By Noh Hyun-gi