'K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie' explores Korean, Japanese food cultures through friendship, flavor

Kim In-sik, producer of Netflix's food-themed show "K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie," poses prior to an interview with The Korea Times at Studio Modak in Mapo District, Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

What happens when Korea’s top foodie meets Japan’s ultimate solo diner? In "K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie," now streaming on Netflix, beloved Korean ballad singer Sung Si-kyung teams up with Japanese actor Yutaka Matsushige of "Solitary Gourmet" fame for a cross-cultural culinary tour.

Hopping between Korea's hidden gems and Japan's nostalgic eateries, the pair share more than just meals — they serve up memories, flavors and laughter. Since its February premiere, the show is winning over viewers in both countries, with Season 2 currently airing.

In the latest episodes, Matsushige introduced tonkotsu ramen, the rich pork bone broth noodle dish hailing from Japan’s Fukuoka region, while Sung spotlighted Korea’s own comfort classic — sundae gukbap, a hearty soup made with blood sausage and rice in a savory pork bone broth.

“Most food shows stimulate some kind of instinctive desire. They show delicious food and intentionally highlight the sounds to make viewers crave food. But I always hoped it could be something more than that," Kim In-sik, the producer behind the show, said in an interview with The Korea Times at Studio Modak in Mapo District, Seoul, Tuesday.

“Both of (the hosts) know quite a lot about the different food cultures of Korea and Japan, and they have no hesitation in introducing these to each other. I think the fact that the show shares these cultural aspects is why it’s being recognized as something different from just a regular eating show."

Matsushige boasts a huge fan base in Korea thanks to his character Goro, who confidently enjoys eating and drinking alone in the long-running series "Solitary Gourmet." The drama sparked the quiet spread of the "eating alone" culture in Korea, where it had often been stigmatized in the past as being awkward.

Rather than a "taste battle," this program aims for a "taste exchange project," taking a warm look at two neighboring yet distinct cultures through their food. The goal isn't to win in comparison, like a competitive sports match, but to let each other enjoy even more delicious food by comparing and introducing dishes in a friendly manner. The natural camaraderie between the two friends truly shines through in the show's atmosphere.

Cross-cultural exclamations such as Sung's "yabai" (meaning "insane" in Japanese) and Matsushige's "michyeotda" (meaning "crazy" in Korean) bring a warm, genuine tone to each episode.

Sung Si-kyung, left, and Yutaka Matsushige in a scene from the Netflix show "K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie" / Courtesy of Netflix

Generosity vs. precision

Kim found it fascinating how similar yet different Korean and Japanese food cultures are. In Korea, it’s normal to drink all the soup, but in Japan, people typically dip their noodles in the broth rather than drinking it.

"I always drank all the soup whenever I went to Japan because it was so delicious — I would just gulp it down. But I heard that in Japan, the culture is more about dipping the noodles in the broth. If you drink all the broth in Japan, there’s an expression that people will look at you with just the whites of their eyes and apparently, that’s how they look at you — like, ‘What is that person doing?’ It made me realize that this is truly a significant difference in food culture," he explained.

Another difference he notes is that Japan has a certain delicacy and attention to detail, while Korea, in contrast, has a more generous approach with a tendency to enjoy things more abundantly.

"In Korea, generosity is shown by serving more food, while in Japan, people order exactly what they want and make a point of finishing everything as a sign of respect. After learning that leaving food uneaten could offend Japanese restaurant owners, I tried not to leave food on my plate during my visits," he said.

Scenes from the Netflix show "K-Foodie Meets J-Foodie" / Courtesy of Netflix

In the same context, there are many dishes in Korea that must be ordered in portions for two or more people, like "samgyeopsal" (grilled pork belly) or braised dishes, whereas in Japan, it’s common to order small portions of various items.

"Even beer sizes differ, with Korea typically serving a standard 500 milliliters, while Japan offers multiple sizes. These differences highlight the unique aspects of each country’s dining culture," he added.

Personal memories

Kim explained that the restaurants featured on the show aren’t chosen by ranking or gathering recommendations from other foodies, but instead reflect the two hosts’ personal tastes and memories.

For example, the Pyeongyang naengmyeon (North Korean-style cold noodle) restaurant Pildong Myeonok is a place Sung’s parents visited when they were dating, and it’s also where Sung first tried the dish. This restaurant holds special memories for him, making it more than just a famous or delicious spot — it’s soul food.

"This show introduces places like Pildong Myeonok, because of the hosts’ personal stories and emotional connections. Similarly, Matsushige once happened to visit a pudding shop during a drive, where he saw a beautiful sunset. Even though there may be more famous or expensive pudding shops, he recommends that one because of the special memory tied to it. The show is about sharing these personal experiences and memories behind their favorite restaurants," he said.

Korea-Japan collaboration

As Korean-Japanese co-productions become increasingly common across broadcast and streaming platforms, this program stands out as a Korean-led project that was planned and produced in Korea while featuring Japanese cast members and local Japanese staff, offering a respectful representation of both cultures.

Kim credits Netflix’s global platform for enabling this kind of content.

“Netflix definitely plays the critical role. Traditional broadcasters didn’t need to consider overseas viewers because their shows weren’t broadcast internationally. Of course, our main target is still Korean viewers, but just having the mindset that our content can reach out and expand globally, even if it starts with Korean audiences, makes a huge difference," he said.

The producer added that from the planning stage, he had to consider how to balance the Korean and Japanese elements and what filming style would work best.

“Even when we’re choosing subtitles or certain expressions, we have to think, ‘Will Japanese viewers understand this expression,' or 'will they get this joke?'"

Kim expressed his ambition to further expand the program in the future.

“Netflix produces a lot of survival and dating shows, and I heard that ‘Physical: 100’ is coming out with an Asia version. In the same way, I’d like to keep challenging myself to create larger-scale programs, whether that means expanding to more countries or broadening the themes.”