V shares unexpected experience from 'Jinny's Kitchen'

From left, Park Seo-joon, Jung Yu-mi, Lee Seo-jin, Choi Woo-shik, Kim Tae-hyung and producer Na Young-seok pose during the online press conference for tvN's new reality show “Jinny's Kitchen,” Wednesday. Courtesy of tvN

By Lee Gyu-lee

V of K-pop group BTS, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, shared his experiences as a cast member of star producer Na Young-seok's new reality show “Jinny's Kitchen,” which he said was full of surprises.

“I had high hopes when I joined the show. And when I got there (to shoot the show), I had several new experiences. The show has left me with such unforgettable memories,” the singer said during an online press conference for the show, Wednesday.

The upcoming reality show, set to kick off on Friday, is a spin-off to producer Na's 2017 show, "Youn's Kitchen." That show followed Oscar-winning actress Youn Yuh-jung running a Korean restaurant abroad with fellow actors Lee Seo-jin, Jung Yu-mi, and Park Seo-joon.

As Youn's successor, Lee will run a restaurant with Jung and Park, along with actor Choi Woo-shik, who joined the crew in the 2021 spin-off show “Youn's Stay,” and the newest member Kim.

The celebrities headed to Bacalar, Mexico, to introduce Korean street food to locals and tourists there, selling foods like gimbap ― rice and vegetables wrapped in dried seaweed ― and tteokbokki ― spicy stir-fried rice cakes.

Although this show has a similar format to "Youn's Kitchen," the producer said the tone would be completely different.

“The biggest difference (between the two shows) is that 'Youn's Kitchen' was about healing. But this one turned itself around as a survival, competition-style show. The owner's philosophy is all about revenue. In other words, it became like a restaurant simulation game,” Na said. “Lee values hierarchy. So as (the cast members) are given job titles, they develop subtle enmities and rivalries, and a merit system leads to an obsessive focus on results. So it's like watching a workplace drama.”

A poster for the new reality show “Jinny's Kitchen" / Courtesy of tvN

Lee's promotion to owner from head manager in the previous series is key to this season.

“It would be fun to follow how Lee changes with the title as the owner and how those changes affect the organization. I bet viewers will be able to relate to the show, like it's the same thing they go through at work and so they'll enjoy watching it," he said.

Taking over the restaurant management, Lee expressed satisfaction with his promotion.

“I'm not so young anymore so I can't work under someone forever … The perk (of being the owner) is that I'm free to do whatever I want without being conscious (of a superior). I didn't have any difficulties throughout the show,” he said.

The cast members shared that they had a tough time preparing foods for the restaurant.

“It was much more hectic than I expected. I've never had to stay in the kitchen the whole time but I come to have a lot of respect for those running restaurants,” Park said. “The labor was enormously hard but I felt it was worth it when I saw customers enjoying the dishes.”

Kim said he also had trouble with his cooking role, adding that he is the least talented cook among BTS members.

“I was expecting to be a server but I was surprised that they made me cook,” he said. “Cooking is not an easy job. I had a very difficult time.”

“Jinny's Kitchen" airs every Friday at 8:50 p.m. and streams on Tving and Prime Video.