Former baseball player Yang Joon-hyuk and his playful interactions with siblings Jung Ho-young and Jung Ji-sun brought great entertainment. Yang previously revealed that he lost 5 billion won from his baseball career due to a failed business venture.
On the October 12th episode of KBS2's variety show 'The Boss Has Donkey Ears' (directed by Choi Seung-hee, hereafter referred to as 'The Boss'), episode 352 featured Jung Ho-young, Jung Ji-sun, and Yang Joon-hyuk visiting 'Mosu Hong Kong' for a business trip. They tasted the restaurant's signature dishes, including white sesame tofu, fern stir-fried rice, pork belly, and acorn noodles, discussing the harmony and flavors of the ingredients.
When Jung Ji-sun asked Yang about the truffle aroma in the acorn noodles filled with expensive truffles, Yang innocently asked, "Is this a mushroom? Is it that expensive?" causing laughter. After finishing the meal, Yang humorously asked, "Is there no refill here?" adding to the fun.
As they walked the streets, fans began to recognize Jung Ji-sun and Jung Ho-young, requesting photos, showcasing their popularity. Observing this, Yang commented, "I'm popular like that in Daegu too," but expressed envy, saying, "I should go out with a black-and-white chef holding a fish."
The next day, Jung Ho-young guided them to Lamma Island, the hometown of Chow Yun-fat, for a new business tour. Upon arriving, they discovered a place selling various seafood and sauces, and Jung Ho-young and Jung Ji-sun playfully asked Yang to buy them as a souvenir. 'Super Rich Brother' Yang agreed, but after spending 100,000 won on anchovies and mala sauce, he couldn't hide his surprise.
At the seafood restaurant, the requests for "buy us this" continued. With Yang's generous spending, Jung Ho-young and Jung Ji-sun endlessly ordered elephant clams, mantis shrimp, lobsters, and scallops. Yang humorously advised, "Did you starve for days? I'll buy it, but don't leave any leftovers," showcasing his easygoing charm. While everyone marveled at the fresh seafood, Yang reminisced about the past, saying, "I used to farm rockfish, abalone, parrotfish, and flounder, but it all failed, and I cried a lot," evoking sympathy.
Meanwhile, Lee Soon-sil showcased her bold 'girl crush' charm while meeting comedian Shin Ki-roo. Shin gifted Lee a custom-made pink couple's sweater, and they formed the 'Soon-Ki-roo Sisters' while taking photos, bringing laughter. Watching Shin enjoy the meal of braised pollack, mung bean pancakes, and Pyongyang cold noodles, Lee shared, "I once ate 40 dumplings," to which Shin replied, "I once ate 70 rolled dumplings like popcorn," boasting about their eating habits.
Known as 'taste experts' in the entertainment industry, Shin and Lee embarked on a successful store tour to uncover the secrets of successful establishments. Their first stop was a galbi restaurant that started as a 13-pyeong store in 1996 and now operates four locations in Gangnam, achieving an annual sales of 5.5 billion won. The 81-year-old owner advised Lee, "Don't change the menu with the seasons. If you choose cold noodles, fall with cold noodles and rise with cold noodles," offering heartfelt advice.
They then visited a chicken restaurant operated by three generations for 50 years. The second-generation owner shared, "Since my father opened the chicken shop, we haven't taken a day off, and during the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, sales skyrocketed due to the chicken craze," adding, "The secret to 50 years of popularity is selling memories with chicken. That's why customers keep coming back." This resonated deeply with Lee.
'The Boss Has Donkey Ears' airs every Sunday at 4:40 PM on KBS 2TV.
Kim Se-a, Ten Asia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr