Lee Young-ae Opens Her Refrigerator for the First Time on 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator'

Lee Young-ae unveils her refrigerator for the first time, showcasing a bounty of healthy ingredients from her home gardens in both Yangpyeong and Itaewon.

On October 31 at 9 PM, JTBC's 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' will feature actress Lee Young-ae and Kim Young-kwang, who returns to the show after 10 years.

Lee Young-ae expresses her deep admiration for the show, appearing with a nervous smile and sharing, "I watched 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' until 2 AM last night," and "It's amazing to see the people I just watched on TV right in front of me." She also mentions her child's fandom, having requested an autograph and video message from one of the chefs, sparking curiosity about who it might be.

The chefs recount Lee Young-ae's influence on the global popularity of Korean cuisine through her role in 'Dae Jang Geum.' Chef Son Jong-won shares, "Whenever we learn royal cuisine, they always say, 'This dish was featured in Dae Jang Geum,'" attributing the K-food craze to the show. Chef Choi Hyun-seok adds, "When I teach about aromas, I always mention the persimmon episode from 'Dae Jang Geum,'" even doing an impression that brings laughter to the set. Lee Young-ae reveals she used persimmons for a healthy sweetness and shares a story of being treated as a state guest abroad during the show's airing, surprising everyone.

Lee Young-ae takes pride in her homegrown produce. Her refrigerator overflows with organic ingredients, prompting Ahn Jung-hwan to exclaim, "Is this a farm co-op?" Chef Choi Hyun-seok notes, "Usually, home-grown produce is small, but everything here is robust," expressing amazement. Lee Young-ae humorously boasts, "Our green onions are as sturdy as thigh muscles, they seem to walk around," bringing laughter. She also shares amusing anecdotes about deer incidents and a thrilling sweet potato harvest.

Experience the naturalistic diet of Korea's beloved actress 'Jang-geum' Lee Young-ae on JTBC's 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' at 9 PM on October 31.

Lee Young-ae married businessman Jung Ho-young, 20 years her senior, in 2009 and gave birth to twins in 2011. Jung, born in 1951, graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology and worked in the U.S. IT industry. He founded a Korean telecommunications venture in the late 1980s and served as chairman of the defense company Korea Raycom. His wealth is estimated at 2 trillion won.

By Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr