Chef Lee Ha-sung Visits Kian84's Home for a Cooking Showdown and Heartfelt Conversation

Renowned chef Lee Ha-sung, who gained fame from the popular variety show 'Black and White Chef 2,' recently visited Kian84's home, sparking interest with their candid conversation and impromptu cooking showdown.

The YouTube channel 'Life84,' run by Kian84, featured a video titled 'Black and White Chef 2 Cooking Monster vs. Kian84.'

In the video, Lee Ha-sung, who was the runner-up on Netflix's cooking competition show 'Black and White Chef 2,' met with Kian84.

Lee shared that he is set to open his own restaurant in New York in early March and expressed his desire to formally invite Kian84 if he visits New York for a marathon. Kian84 then inquired if Lee had any plans to open a restaurant in Korea.

Lee, who has spent a significant amount of time abroad, expressed his cautiousness about the Korean market. In response, Kian84 jokingly suggested, "I'll invest a little, let's open a restaurant in front of my house," adding humorously, "I think we'll become tycoons."

Lee candidly shared his challenging journey as a chef. After an injury playing local soccer ended his dreams of becoming a player, he moved to the U.S. at 21. He recounted his unpaid internship experiences at Michelin 3-star restaurants in Denmark and Spain.

In Denmark, he worked 18-hour days, earning a modest salary of around 2.5 million won after taxes, and saved diligently despite paying 1 million won in rent.

When Kian84 jokingly asked why he kept working without pay, Lee explained that he wants to focus on his main career and prioritize preparing for his New York restaurant over numerous TV appearances.

Their unique cooking battle added to the excitement. Kian84 presented 'Persimmon Bibim Noodles' and 'Persimmon Kimchi Fried Rice,' using persimmons instead of sugar. Lee praised the unexpected balance of flavors.

Lee then showcased his chef skills by creating an impromptu bibim noodle dish using melon, wasabi, and chojang, despite the lack of gochujang in the fridge.

However, after tasting the dish, Kian84 commented that the wasabi flavor was too strong, claiming his persimmon bibim noodles were better, maintaining a lighthearted atmosphere until the end. Lee concluded the broadcast by expressing his unfamiliarity with his sudden fame and his determination to focus on his culinary career this year.

Chae-ryeong Lim, TenAsia Reporter syjj426@tenasia.co.kr