Singer Kim Yong-bin made a touching appearance on 'Pyeonstorang'.
Kim Yong-bin appeared as a new chef on the October 24th episode of KBS 2TV's 'Pyeonstorang'. With a bright smile, he greeted the studio, introduced as the 'Trot Prince'. He shared, "After my last appearance, I practiced cooking alone and found it increasingly enjoyable," explaining his reason for returning. He added, "Today, I'm here to win first place as a chef."
During his vacation, Kim visited his hometown, Daegu. He revisited his alma mater, Suseong Elementary School, and childhood haunts like a stationery store and a snack shop, reminiscing about old memories. The stationery store owner surprised him by still keeping his debut album from 2004, and the snack shop owner remembered his favorite childhood menu, adding warmth to the visit.
While exploring his grandmother's house, filled with her memories, he discovered a scrapbook of newspaper clippings, which deeply moved him. Kim expressed, "My grandmother would always be on my side, even if no one else was," conveying his heartfelt emotions.
Kim tearfully shared, "My grandmother passed away before she could see me win first place," and recalled, "Watching her suffer for six months was the hardest time of my life," bringing viewers to tears.
Back at his accommodation, Kim called his aunt to learn his grandmother's recipes. He lovingly prepared dishes like pumpkin stew, mackerel radish stew, and grilled hairtail. As he finished, he remarked, "It smells just like when my grandmother used to cook," evoking deep emotions.
Kim then visited his grandmother's grave with a homemade lunchbox. He expressed gratitude, saying, "Thanks to 'Pyeonstorang', I can cook for my grandmother." He concluded by singing a short, unaccompanied version of 'The Face I Miss', a song his grandmother loved, leaving a lasting impression as the show ended.
Meanwhile, Kim Yong-bin won 'Mr. Trot 3', receiving a prize of 300 million won. He continues to be active, having released his winning song 'It Was You Yesterday and Today' in July last year.
Kim Se-ah, Ten Asia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr