My husband and I were watching Culinary Class Wars 2 together. When Chef Hudeokjuk quietly handed over his knife to a younger chef and just smiled, my husband said “That’s the kind of senior I want to be.” Honestly, same.
The New “Right Mindset” Meme
You’ve probably heard of 원영적 사고 (wonyeongjeok sago) - the “Lucky Vicky” mindset where you see everything positively like IVE’s Jang Wonyoung.
Well, move over Wonyoung. Korea has a new mindset icon: a 77-year-old Chinese cuisine legend.
후덕죽 마인드 (Hudeokjuk maindeu) = The mindset of staying humble and supportive despite being at the top of your field.
Who Is 후덕죽?
후덕죽 (Hudeokjuk) is a legendary Chinese cuisine chef who appeared on Netflix’s “Culinary Class Wars” Season 2 (흑백요리사2).
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Chef name | 후덕죽 (Hudeokjuk) |
| Age | 77 years old (born 1949) |
| Experience | 57 years in Chinese cuisine |
| Background | Taiwanese-Korean, former Executive Chef at Hotel Shilla’s “Palsun” |
| Achievements | First chef to become a corporate executive in Korean hotel industry |
He’s cooked for Chinese leaders including Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin, who praised his food as “better than authentic Chinese cuisine.”
Where Did This Meme Come From?
It started during the team battle episode of Culinary Class Wars Season 2.
The Scene That Started It All
In the team competition, Chef Hudeokjuk - the most experienced chef with 57 years under his belt - could have easily taken charge. He had every right to.
But instead?
- He quietly followed the younger chefs’ lead
- He lent his personal knife to another chef
- When thanked, he just said “잘 쓰는데, 뭘” (jal sseuneunde, mwol - “You’re using it well, no big deal”)
- He acted as a mediator when teammates had conflicts
(Translation: “At that age with that career, lending his knife and saying ’no big deal’ made me tear up. That’s a real adult.”)
What Does 후덕죽 마인드 Mean?
후덕죽 마인드 or 후덕죽 사고 (Hudeokjuk sago) refers to:
- Staying humble despite being at the top of your field
- Supporting others instead of showing off your authority
- Being a true team player even when you could easily lead
- Zero 꼰대 energy (kkondae = condescending boomer attitude)
It’s basically the opposite of what people expect from a senior with decades of experience.
후덕죽 마인드 vs 원영적 사고
| 원영적 사고 | 후덕죽 마인드 |
|---|---|
| Positive self-perception | Humble self-perception |
| “Everything works out for me!” | “I’ll support from behind” |
| Individual optimism | Team-oriented humility |
| Gen Z idol energy | Wise elder energy |
Both are popular “mindset memes,” but they represent different values:
- 원영적 사고: See yourself positively, manifest good things
- 후덕죽 마인드: Be humble, lift others up, don’t flex your position
How Koreans Use This Meme
1. Praising Humble Leaders
When someone with authority acts surprisingly humble:
(Translation: “My manager has total Hudeokjuk mindset lol. Uses formal speech even to new hires and asks for their ideas.”)
2. Self-Improvement Goals
When setting goals for how to act:
3. Contrasting Bad Behavior
When criticizing someone acting the opposite way:
“후덕죽 마인드 좀 배워라” (Learn some Hudeokjuk mindset) Used when someone senior is being unnecessarily bossy or condescending.
Why This Meme Went Viral
Korean workplace culture often struggles with 권위주의 (gwonwijuui - authoritarianism). The typical expectation:
- Seniors order, juniors follow
- Experience = automatic respect
- Questioning elders = disrespectful
Chef Hudeokjuk broke all these expectations. He showed that true confidence means you don’t need to prove it.
(Translation: “This is the composure of a true expert… Following juniors’ opinions after 57 years actually makes him look cooler.”)
My Experience
Real talk: watching this episode with my husband was surprisingly emotional. We’re both in our 30s, and we’ve seen enough 꼰대 behavior to last a lifetime.
My husband works in an office where seniority is everything. When he saw Chef Hudeokjuk casually handing over his knife - his PERSONAL chef’s knife - and just smiling, he paused the show.
“That’s what I want to be when I’m older,” he said.
And honestly? In Korean society where age hierarchy is so strong, seeing a 77-year-old act this way hits different. It’s not that he’s weak or has nothing to contribute. He’s literally a legend. But he chose humility.
That’s 후덕죽 마인드.
Related Expressions
- 원영적 사고 (wonyeongjeok sago) - Wonyoung-like thinking (positive mindset)
- 꼰대 (kkondae) - Condescending older person
- MZ세대 (MZ sedae) - Millennials + Gen Z
- 팔로워십 (palloweosip) - Followership (supporting rather than leading)
Quick Reference
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 후덕죽 마인드 | Hudeokjuk maindeu | Humble leadership mindset |
| 후덕죽 사고 | Hudeokjuk sago | Hudeokjuk-like thinking |
| 진짜 어른 | jinjja eoreun | Real adult / true grown-up |
| 꼰대 아님 | kkondae anim | Not a 꼰대 (compliment) |
Sources: Herald Corp, Namu Wiki, Sports Khan, Media Today