Kwon Sung-jun Says Chestnut Tiramisu Powered His 3.5 Billion Won Building Purchase

Kwon Sung-jun, the winner of Netflix's culinary survival show 'Culinary Class Wars' Season 1, has directly revealed the background behind his purchase of a building worth over 3.5 billion won. He explained that the core driver was not the winner's prize money or appearance fees, but rather the incentives generated from the 'Chestnut Tiramisu'—which became a sensation on the show—being sold as a convenience store product.

This statement offers more to read than a simple disclosure of assets, as it serves as a case where winning a variety show did not end with mere recognition but led to recipes, products, and store expansions.

3.5 Billion Won Building Purchase Revealed on 'DEX101'

On the 18th, during a video on the YouTube channel 'DEX101', when the topic of his recent building purchase arose, Kwon Sung-jun explained that the building price was 3.3 billion won, and including taxes such as acquisition tax, it totaled approximately 3.5 billion won. He added that it was not a choice made because he had excessive money but was a bold decision, noting that he does not even own a car yet.

Kwon Sung-jun's plans are also focused on business expansion. He expressed his intention to open a cafe on the first floor of the building, stating his desire to continue taking on new challenges.

Regarding the source of the funds, he first pointed to 'Chestnut Tiramisu'. Kwon Sung-jun mentioned the revenue from the 'Chestnut Tiramisu' product as the largest contributor to the building purchase, revealing there was a structure for sharing product profits. While he did not disclose the specific amount, he stated that this income was the most significant.

CU Chestnut Tiramisu Cup Reaches 8.7 Billion Won in Sales in About a Month

The power of Chestnut Tiramisu was more than just mere buzz. The CU Chestnut Tiramisu cup, utilizing Kwon Sung-jun's recipe, was released on October 8, 2024, and on the 30th of the same month, the Yonsei Milk Chestnut Tiramisu bread was also released.

As of November 22, 2024, the cumulative sales of the two products exceeded 2 million units, surpassing 8.7 billion won in sales in about a month. During the initial pre-order period of the Chestnut Tiramisu cup, daily volumes of 10,000 to 20,000 units were sold on average within 20 minutes, and there were days when 10,000 units sold out in just 4 minutes.

The stardom created by 'Culinary Class Wars' did not end within the broadcast. The menu remembered by viewers became an actual commercial product, and those sales returned as a stepping stone for Kwon Sung-jun's next business venture. Kwon Sung-jun's nickname 'Napoli Matfia' and 'Chestnut Tiramisu' were already familiar names to those who watched the program.

Post-Victory Plans Leading to a First-Floor Cafe Concept

The reason Kwon Sung-jun's case is drawing attention is that it does not end with the common phrase, 'He became famous by appearing on TV.' He was already a chef operating a restaurant, and in 'Culinary Class Wars', he gained attention through his results rather than his character. Following his victory, TV appearances, product collaborations, and plans for a new space followed in succession.

However, the success of a convenience store product does not necessarily guarantee the success of a cafe or restaurant business. While convenience store desserts have high accessibility and can quickly absorb curiosity immediately after a broadcast, offline stores must consistently meet demands for location, price, turnover, and revisit rates.

Therefore, the weight of this statement lies in 'why it was possible' rather than the figure of 3.5 billion won. Kwon Sung-jun made his face known through the broadcast, was remembered through his menu, and secured funds for his next business through product sales. The first-floor cafe he is envisioning is expected to be his next challenge in moving the public memory created by 'Chestnut Tiramisu' into an offline space.