Lee Kyung-kyu's Bold Stance on the 'Perilla Leaf Debate' on 'Mr. Lee'

Lee Kyung-kyu (65) shares his candid thoughts on the 'Perilla Leaf Debate'.

On the upcoming episode of TV CHOSUN's 'Modern Figure Mr. Lee' (hereafter 'Mr. Lee'), airing at 9 PM on the 12th, hosts Lee Kyung-kyu and Han Seung-yeon engage in a lively discussion about the 'Perilla Leaf Debate'.

The show reveals that the popular 'solo dining culture' actually dates back to the Joseon Dynasty. Special MC Han Seung-yeon, showcasing her expertise in solo dining, states, "Two side dishes are enough when dining alone." She further ignites a heated debate on the 'Perilla Leaf Debate', unique to the 'K-dining table', by saying, "How can you turn a blind eye to someone else's struggle?" However, the situation is humorously resolved with Lee Kyung-kyu's exclamation, "Don't put things like perilla leaves on the table!"

When the topic of 'K-dining table essentials' like canned tuna arises, Han Seung-yeon expresses her unique affection by saying, "I can't resist tuna!" Self-proclaimed 'tuna enthusiast' Lee Kyung-kyu captivates the audience with stories of the development of Korea's deep-sea fishing industry, the origin of the country's leading tuna brand. As a native of Busan, he reminisces, "There were many sailors in Nampo-dong. They used to throw money around in bars," sharing tales of the 1960s when sailors were considered the 'top grooms'.

The episode also unveils the behind-the-scenes stories of Ottogi, the brand that created the 'national convenience food' legends like 3-minute curry and mayonnaise. It is revealed that Ham Yeon-ji, known as the third generation of Ottogi, was roommates with the granddaughter of a rival company, Nongshim, during their school days, sparking interest with their 'ramen spoon' stories. In the ensuing ramen preference debate, the cast exclaims, "It has to be white!" referring to 'Kkokkomyeon', to which Lee Kyung-kyu responds with a proud thumbs-up, eliciting laughter.

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