Jongwon Baek, I can't see you on TV for a while

Baek Jong-won's popular TV show 'Backpacker 2' is set to conclude next week, marking a temporary farewell to the beloved culinary expert on television until his next project, 'Baek Jong-won's Les Misérables,' airs.

The 23rd episode of tvN's 'Backpacker 2,' which aired on the 3rd, featured Baek Jong-won, Lee Soo-geun, Heo Kyung-hwan, Ahn Bo-hyun, and Go Kyung-pyo as they prepared a 'meal thief' feast for the hardworking officers of the Gwanak Police Station, who protect the district 24/7.

The traveling cooking team received an urgent request on the day of their visit, with the words 'arrest warrant' adding tension from the start. The warrant humorously listed charges like 'meal thief' and 'inducing overeating,' prompting Ahn Bo-hyun to joke that Baek Jong-won deserved a life sentence. The 23rd mission was revealed to be at the Gwanak Police Station, one of Seoul's busiest, handling approximately 450 emergency calls daily.

Upon arrival, the team navigated through triple security gates to reach the 112 control room, the police station's dispatch hub. For the first time on television, the interior of the control room was unveiled, showcasing monitors displaying live feeds from holding cells, interrogation rooms, and patrol cars. The constant ringing of emergency call bells highlighted the station's hectic pace.

The client requested Baek Jong-won, known as the 'nation's top meal thief,' to captivate the officers' palates with a 'meal thief' feast. After careful consideration, Baek Jong-won chose an upgraded chicken rice dish inspired by spicy chicken stew as the first menu item. Additional dishes included seasoned sauce with seaweed and sausage vegetable stir-fry, along with a soup made from mustard greens. The team, now seasoned cooks, quickly identified the menu from the ingredients provided.

The mission didn't end there. Although the dining headcount was 140, they prepared 200 bowls of rice, 1.5 times the expected amount. With this challenging task, the team began their culinary preparations. Roles were naturally assigned, with Heo Kyung-hwan handling chopping, Lee Soo-geun managing rice, and Go Kyung-pyo taking charge of frying. Once unable to handle hot items, Go Kyung-pyo had become a frying expert, impressively preparing chicken fried rice with spicy gochujang sauce under Baek Jong-won's guidance.

The sausage vegetable stir-fry was unique in that it was fried, not stir-fried. Baek Jong-won demonstrated his adaptability by accepting Ahn Bo-hyun's suggestion to add more ketchup, showcasing his 'nation's meal thief' persona. Lee Soo-geun faced a challenge with undercooked rice but resolved it by adding water and restarting the cooker, demonstrating his newfound problem-solving skills. Another dish featured seasoned sauce with seaweed, initially planned as wild chive sauce but adapted to a chive sauce with minced pork. After tasting the combination, Baek Jong-won was pleased, responding to Lee Soo-geun's inquiry about reporting it with a satisfied "This alone will do."

For the final 'meal thief' dish, Baek Jong-won prepared a hearty beef and mustard green soup, adding lean beef cuts for a rich flavor. Lee Soo-geun and Heo Kyung-hwan prepared 200 bowls of rice, while Ahn Bo-hyun and Go Kyung-pyo ensured the dishes were served warm, earning Baek Jong-won's praise. When Baek Jong-won remarked that each member could host their own show, Heo Kyung-hwan humorously declared himself "Chef Heo Baek," eliciting laughter.

As the meal service began, officers from various departments, including detectives and traffic police, gathered to enjoy the feast. Compliments poured in, with comments like "The chicken pairs well with rice," "I wish we had this every day," "The sauce alone whets the appetite," and "The soup is truly different." Many officers, including the station chief, returned for seconds. Ahn Bo-hyun, meanwhile, garnered attention for his popularity among the officers, humorously recounting his roles as a detective and a drug dealer in 'Veteran.' Baek Jong-won, the 'nation's meal thief,' was delighted to learn that 39 officers refilled their rice bowls despite the generous portions.

The next episode promises to showcase Baek Jong-won's return as a business genius and the emotional farewell of the traveling cooking team.

Reporter: Tae Yuna, Ten Asia youyou@tenasia.co.kr