Renowned Chinese cuisine chef Hou Deok-juk is experiencing a surge in popularity following his appearance on 'Black and White Chef 2'.
Chef An Sung-jae's YouTube channel, 'Chef An Sung-jae', recently featured a video titled 'Why Did You Look at Me Like That? A 1:1 Fan Meeting with Hou Deok-juk That Even Made An Sung-jae Nervous'.
In the video, Chef An Sung-jae expressed his admiration for Chef Hou Deok-juk, who appeared on 'Black and White Chef 2', saying, "He was such a memorable person, and his dishes were deeply impressive." Chef Hou Deok-juk, a legendary figure in Korean Chinese cuisine, participated in the show at the age of 76, making him the oldest contestant.
On 'Black and White Chef 2', Chef Hou Deok-juk, known for his 'Hou Deok-juk accident' and boundless energy, advanced to the TOP 3 as a legendary underdog chef and continues to cook magnificently in the kitchen.
When asked by Chef An Sung-jae about his life after 'Black and White Chef 2', Chef Hou Deok-juk shared, "Since appearing on the show, young people, even elementary school students, run up to me saying 'I'm a fan' and asking for photos," revealing his status as the 'oldest youth icon'.
Chef An Sung-jae inquired, "What do you think is your charm?" To which Chef Hou Deok-juk replied, "I think my charm lies in my ability to communicate well with many people and create an atmosphere where everyone can succeed together, rather than boasting about myself."
Chef An Sung-jae commented, "Personally, I noticed that you can't hide your energy and are always doing something. Where does that vitality come from?" Chef Hou Deok-juk responded, "As a chef, you stand and work all day, and I think it's become a habit over time."
He added, "I think it's because I enjoy working with young people, which keeps my spirit light." He also mentioned, "The environment is completely different now, but the skills I learned under pressure have helped me stay fit."
Chef Hou Deok-juk then recalled a memorable scene from 'Black and White Chef 2'. During the 'Carrot Hell' mission, he made 'mini carrots', and Chef An Sung-jae was mesmerized by his dough-making skills.
Chef Hou Deok-juk remarked, "I saw that, and I wondered why you were looking at me like that. I was surprised too." Chef An Sung-jae explained, "At that moment, my eyes were drawn to you. While others were busy with carrots, you were making dough, and it was mesmerizing. It reminded me of the energy surge when a character becomes a Super Saiyan in 'Dragon Ball'. I was so captivated that I didn't even think about controlling my expression."
Reporter Chaeryeong Lim, TenAsia syjj426@tenasia.co.kr