Lee Min-jung Opens Up About Cooking, Marriage, and Life with Lee Byung-hun on 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator'

Actress Lee Min-jung candidly shared about her life with husband Lee Byung-hun, including moments of tears after arguments, on the latest episode of JTBC's 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' aired on the 4th.

Lee Min-jung, who gained popularity through her YouTube content 'Homemade Meals with Lee Min-jung,' appeared alongside actor Yoo Ji-tae. She humbly attributed her success to making quick and simple meals with whatever is available in the fridge, saying, "I think people liked it because I make dishes that can be quickly prepared if you know how to handle the stove."

Photos of Lee Min-jung's homemade dishes were revealed, showcasing 'fine dining' level meals. Yoo Ji-tae was astonished, asking, "Did you learn cooking? Is this self-taught?" Chef Choi Hyun-seok praised her, saying, "This isn't just 'Homemade Meals with Lee Min-jung,' it's 'Chef Lee's Homemade Meals.'"

Confident in her quick cooking skills, Lee Min-jung shared, "Having two kids changes things. Now, I can take a shower while making braised beef," revealing the realities of parenting.

Lee Min-jung admitted to having arguments with Lee Byung-hun over meals, saying, "In the early days of our marriage, I even cried. I wanted to put more effort into cooking, but he would finish eating before I even served the soup."

Regarding Lee Byung-hun's quick eating habits, Lee Min-jung said, "I haven't even started eating yet," but added, "He developed the habit of eating quickly due to his long acting career. Now, he takes about 10 minutes, waiting for the soup while shaking his leg and timing his bites."

Lee Min-jung revealed her husband's preference for spicy dishes like stir-fried squid and pork, while she prefers the natural taste of meat. "I originally liked Western food. When I served sandwiches and soup during our honeymoon, he would finish and say, 'Now let's eat rice.' So, I stopped making it often. I enjoy a variety of foods, but my husband prefers one-dish meals," she shared.

Upon discovering 'red rice makgeolli' in the fridge, Lee Min-jung joked, "I can pretend it's strawberry milk," explaining that her 25-month-old daughter, who recently started talking, pointed at a wine bottle and said, 'That's mom's.'

Lee Min-jung enjoys drinking at home with Lee Byung-hun, noting, "He eats quickly, so there's no time to talk during meals, but he takes his time with drinks." When asked about her favorite snacks, she said, "My husband, who's on a low-sodium diet, likes dried pollack, while I prefer pancakes. My nickname is 'Lee Min-jeon.'"

By Eun-jung Kim, TenAsia Reporter eun@tenasia.co.kr