First up, ‘Youth Over Flowers: Limited Edition’ has officially kicked off as of May 3, returning after a decade! This season follows the chaotic domestic wanderings of Jung Yu-mi, Park Seo-joon, and Choi Woo-shik, who are left in the dark about where they’ll go, where they’ll sleep, and how they’ll get around.
After suddenly departing on a trip during a live stream in February, the trio is now facing a tough road under a new ‘limited’ setting: a budget of just 100,000 won per person and the requirement to move to a new destination every single day. They are currently fighting a desperate battle against these endless restrictions.
With the difficulty level cranked up this season, the three are facing various constraints beyond just the budget. Their struggle to unlock these restrictions is providing a fresh kind of fun. At the same time, viewers are loving the thrill of their spontaneous trips and the natural way they bond with locals due to their limited equipment.
Their evolving relationship is also a major highlight, as they’ve previously worked together in ‘Youn’s Stay’ and ‘Jinny’s Kitchen’. Moving away from the efficiency-focused vibe of coworkers, they’re now showing off a family-like chemistry while sharing their daily lives outside of work.
Next, ‘Cooking is Pain!’ (airing May 9) is a variety show featuring a ‘Cooking Exhibition’ project where chefs gather to find new culinary ideas. Kim Pung, Jung Ji-sun, Lee Moon-jung, and Cho Seo-hyung appear to share the intense and creative behind-the-scenes stories of the kitchen. Moving away from traditional cooking competitions, the show will closely examine the process of creating a single piece of art.
The biggest point of interest is the ‘pain of creation’ experienced by professional chefs. Those who always delivered perfect results will now show, without filter, the limits they face and how they overcome them while developing new recipes.
The synergy between cast members with contrasting styles, such as Chinese cuisine master Jung Ji-sun and the eccentric Kim Pung, is another highlight to look forward to. Beyond simple mukbangs or cooking shows, their sincerity toward ‘cooking as an art’ will be the core of the entertainment.
This program is drawing attention with its grand scale, massive sets, and a powerhouse group of seven style mentors. Additionally, the 100 participants boast a combined social media following of 43 million.
The participant lineup pre-released on official social media has already caused a stir. High-profile figures like Choi Mina-su from ‘Single’s Inferno 5’, Dan from the ‘930k couple YouTuber’ channel, and Kim Ji-yoon (Blackpink Jisoo’s older sister) are set to appear.
A key point will be how participants showcase their content planning and public communication skills beyond just their fashion sense. All eyes are on whether a new fashion icon will emerge from this fierce competition.
Also airing on the same day, ‘Undercover Chef’ is a variety show where Korea’s representative popular chefs go undercover as ‘kitchen juniors’ (maknae) in restaurants located in countries that served as the foundation for their cuisine to tackle hidden missions.
Sam Kim, Jung Ji-sun, and Kwon Seong-jun will set aside their titles as owner-chefs to become the ‘maknae’. The production team noted, “The highlight will be the bewilderment of top chefs, who inspire trust just by their names, becoming ‘incompetent juniors’ in unfamiliar environments, and the clash of instincts as they try—and fail—to hide their skills.”
It’s expected to be hilarious to see those at the top in Korea transform into scolded juniors in foreign kitchens. At the same time, seeing the chefs rediscover their initial passion and reflect on the essence of cooking is expected to add a touch of heartfelt emotion.
