Tensions Rise as Lee Soo-geun and Kim Dae-ho Clash on 'Rest If You Want'

On the June 9th episode of MBC's variety show 'Rest If You Want' (directed by Kim Myung-jin, Shin Hyun-bin, Lee Joon-beom, Kim Ki-ho / writer Kwon Jung-hee), the Yangpyeong Brothers, Kim Dae-ho and Lee Soo-geun, along with Mimi, Ha Sung-woon, and newcomer Lee Eun-ji, embarked on a challenge to run a deserted island restaurant.

The workers set out to retrieve the traps they had set the previous day. The Yangpyeong Brothers, who had been bickering since day one, clashed again in the morning. When Kim Dae-ho insisted on taking a difficult path, Lee Soo-geun questioned, "Why take this route?" Ultimately, they followed Lee Soo-geun's advice and reached their destination safely. They were rewarded with a bountiful catch of sea eels, conchs, and mackerels, marking a promising start.

After collecting all the traps, the team headed to the mudflats. Although greeted by numerous cockles, Kim Dae-ho instructed them to dig deep for larger clams. Despite continuous digging, the large clams remained elusive, leading to growing skepticism. However, Kim Dae-ho surprised everyone by unearthing a large clam, known as 'gaejo clam.' This discovery led Lee Eun-ji, Mimi, and Ha Sung-woon to successfully harvest more gaejo clams, concluding the mudflat adventure on a high note.

The team then ventured into rockfish fishing, a prized catch in Korea. When the traps initially yielded little, 'national worker' Lee Soo-geun took charge. As soon as he began, rockfish, greenlings, and conchs were caught in succession. Most notably, two rare abalone fish, which the captain noted are seldom seen even once a day, were captured, turning the scene into a festive atmosphere.

Elated by the full catch, the captain treated the workers to fresh abalone fish sashimi on the spot. Abalone fish is a rare and expensive delicacy, fetching around 100,000 won per fish, with each yielding only about 10 slices, making each slice worth nearly 10,000 won. The workers described the taste as "chewy like rice cake" and "crunchy," piquing viewers' curiosity. Additionally, the captain prepared 'kimchi fish soup noodles' with greenling and noodles in kimchi broth, offering a delightful meal.

The episode also introduced a new chef, Shin Gye-sook, Korea's first female Chinese cuisine chef. Lee Yeon-bok described her as someone he "runs away from because her energy is overwhelming," raising expectations. Despite being taken aback by the raw island kitchen, Shin Gye-sook showcased her charm and enthusiasm.

Upon inspecting the ingredients, Shin Gye-sook immediately grabbed a rockfish, removed its gills, and gutted it, capturing everyone's attention. She then deep-fried the rockfish whole and poured a special sauce over it to create 'Eohyang Rockfish.'

She also presented 'Gaejo Clam Jajangmyeon,' skillfully making the sauce while kneeling with a heavy wok, impressing everyone with her calm demeanor even when the stove nearly toppled over. Her creativity shone through with the introduction of 'Ggwa-bau Rockfish,' using fried rockfish instead of pork, showcasing her culinary prowess.

MBC's 'Rest If You Want' airs every Monday at 9 PM.

Reported by Kim Se-ah, Ten Asia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr