They might have been trying to go for a metaphor where Wooju's compromised ability to taste reflects his loneliness at the start of the story; he's an orphan with exactly one friend, who is older and established in his career, and who tries but doesn't have much time for Wooju anymore.
And then Raon puts him back in touch with that sense, with his personal history, and eventually potential future connections now that he knows where his father is from.













