Park Na-rae and the power of shared meals

Comedian and TV personality Park Na-rae / Korea Times file

When comedian and television personality Park Na-rae showed up for her interview at MBC’s headquarters in Sangam-dong, Seoul, she came bearing boxes of rice cakes for the Chuseok holiday.

It was a Monday, the regular recording day for MBC’s hit reality show “I Live Alone,” which she has led for a decade. Her voice was slightly hoarse from a recent hospital visit, but her energy was unmistakable.

“Let’s share this together,” she said, handing out the treats to staff and crew. Over the course of an 83-minute conversation with writer Lee Kyung-ha, one theme surfaced again and again: the importance of eating together.

“Is there anyone at MBC who hasn’t tasted Na-rae’s kimchi?” Lee laughed. Park smiled, recalling how she often cooked dinners for cast and crew.

“Whenever I brought back fresh seafood from the provinces — yellowtail or octopus — I’d post a message in our group chat,” she said. “Before I knew it, 15 people would show up.”

For many viewers, Park is synonymous with "Naraesik" — her cozy, home-style kitchen show where she cooks and entertains colleagues. The gatherings start simply: “Fresh eel has arrived. Naraesik opens tomorrow at 5 p.m. First six to come get served.”

Her signature kimchi stew is a favorite. Fellow entertainer Shin Gi-ru, once indifferent to kimchi, became a convert after tasting Park’s version. “Now she loves it,” Park said.

But the idea for the show began long before she became a household name. “Just because I was living as a tenant didn’t mean my life had to feel borrowed,” she once wrote.

Even in her tiny rented rooms, Park found joy in sharing meals. In her 2017 essay collection “Welcome to Naraesik! Party Like There’s No Tomorrow,” she revealed the deeper reason behind her passion.

“Naraesik was created to repay, even just a little, the kindness of seniors and colleagues who treated me when I was an unknown comedian,” she wrote.

Her road to fame was long, and she toiled for over 10 years in obscurity. She left her hometown of Anyang in high school to study performing arts, later living in a semi-basement apartment with two friends in Seoul.

Park Na-rae, left, makes kimchi in her backyard. Captured from MBC’s “I Live Alone”

Cooking became a form of survival and connection

Many fans assume she learned from her mother, who is often featured on “I Live Alone” preparing elaborate meals. But Park says otherwise. “My mom actually didn’t like me cooking,” she said. “She was afraid I’d end up stuck in the kitchen.”

Despite her bubbly on-screen image, Park admits she’s naturally shy. “I didn’t realize I was reserved until I turned 40,” she said with a grin. “But I’ve always had this need to connect with people — I thought being social was key to surviving in entertainment.”

Her show isn't just about food; it’s a place of affection. One of the program's most touching rituals is the tradition of “rolling paper” — handwritten notes exchanged among friends.

A table of birthday dishes prepared by Park Na-rae for a friend / Courtesy of Park Na-rae

During the years she struggled to make her name in the industry, Park received one that read, “Na-rae, I hope you make it onto ‘Star Golden Bell.’” The popular KBS variety show was then considered a gateway to stardom. Working towards fame, Park and her friends would dream about better days ahead over shared meals and drinks.

Among those friends was comedian Kim Sook. “At first, she seemed intimidating,” Park wrote in her book. “But she’s actually soft-hearted and clumsy in the sweetest way. Everyone thinks she drinks well, but she once came to 'Naraesik' and drank nothing but two liters of water.”

When she broke her nose during a rehearsal for “Gag Concert,” her cooking efforts were temporarily halted — but the pause was short-lived.

“I get so much energy from inviting people into my home,” she said. “If you can’t be happy now, when will you be?”

Dishes prepared by Park Na-rae for "Naraesik" / Captured from her social media

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.