Jun Hyun-moo, Kwaktube, and Park Ji-hyun headed to Samcheok for a food trip that left viewers captivated. From incredibly fresh eats to deep conversations about dreams, dating, and marriage, they made the Friday night fly by.
In the 31st episode of the real-life street food documentary ‘Jun Hyun-moo Plan 3’ (jointly produced by MBN, Channel S, and SK Broadband) aired on Friday the 15th, Jun Hyun-moo and Kwaktube (Kwak Jun-bin) teamed up with ‘Trot Prince’ Park Ji-hyun for a ‘Still Alive’ special in Samcheok, the southernmost part of Gangwon Province. They enjoyed ‘happiness for 10,000 won’ with Samcheok Market’s bone-in sashimi, whelk, and grilled fish, and completed an epic food map by tackling Samcheok Hanwoo and the East Sea’s famous barley shrimp salad.
The energy was high from the start as Kwaktube showed off his ‘Jun Hyun-moo Plan’ backpack, which had been updated from ‘Urgent search for lover’ to ‘I have a lover.’ Seeing this, Jun Hyun-moo joked, “I think I’m cursed by bags. The ‘urgent search’ phrase looks too desperate,” sparking laughter with his self-diss. He then confidently kicked off the trip, noting that the freshness of the ingredients was amazing for the ‘Still Alive’ special. Soon after, they met up with their ‘eating buddy’ Park Ji-hyun and headed to the Samcheok Lightning Market. During the trip, Jun Hyun-moo felt reassured, saying, “I don’t have to worry about finding restaurants today. Wherever Ji-hyun goes, it becomes a Red Sea (of fans).” Indeed, as they entered the market, merchants and citizens greeted Park Ji-hyun warmly. Drawing on his past experience in the seafood wholesale business, Park Ji-hyun used his ‘eagle eyes’ to pick out the freshest seafood.
The three of them headed to a dipping sauce house with arms full of bone-in sashimi, raw whelk, and grilled fish bought at the market. The ingredients were quickly transformed into a lavish feast, and the trio’s eating passion exploded. During the meal, Park Ji-hyun revealed the behind-the-scenes story of his debut. He shared, “My maternal family members are all in the fishing industry. I also worked in seafood wholesale to help my mother.” He added, “I’ve dreamed of being a singer since middle school, and I found out I was actually quite good at trot. I took a chance, and it worked out great.”
While everyone cheered for Park Ji-hyun’s journey from a devoted son to a ‘Trot Prince,’ their next stop was Samcheok Hanwoo. Park Ji-hyun’s ‘meat lover’ instincts kicked in as he exclaimed, “I love meat so much!” with a crescent-moon smile. At a Hanwoo restaurant with a 70-year tradition, the owner rushed out to welcome Park Ji-hyun the moment he arrived, allowing the group to be seated instantly. They were full of admiration while tasting a platter of special Hanwoo cuts. As the mood warmed up, Park Ji-hyun unleashed a parade of ‘fan-service’ lines. After asking Jun Hyun-moo for his zodiac sign and hearing “Scorpio,” he smoothly replied, “Wrong. From today, you’re the one by my side,” leaving the set in chaos. He laughed, explaining, “I came up with those lines while thinking about how to make my fans happy.”
Over a savory soybean paste stew made with bone broth and homemade paste, the three dove into dating talk. A shy Park Ji-hyun asked, “Are we talking about women here?” but honestly confessed, “I do want to get married. I want to marry, have children, and live happily. My ideal type is someone kind, pure, and pretty.” He also teased his upcoming national tour concert, raising expectations before leaving Samcheok.
After parting ways with Park Ji-hyun, Jun Hyun-moo and Kwaktube headed to a restaurant specializing in ‘barley shrimp,’ which are only caught in the East Sea. They encountered the shocking menu item ‘shrimp salad,’ and Jun Hyun-moo expressed his excitement, saying, “The unexpectedness is great.” When bamboo shoots were served as a side dish, Kwaktube subtly bragged, “My mother-in-law made bamboo shoots for me yesterday.” Jun Hyun-moo reacted with envy, saying, “Your mother-in-law does things for you that even a mother wouldn’t!” Kwaktube added to the laughter with some real-life newlywed talk, saying, “It’s because my mother-in-law stays at home longer.” When the bright red shrimp salad appeared, they devoured it, claiming it was the first time they’d ever eaten it and calling it the most shocking food of the year. Jun Hyun-moo wrapped up the trip with 200% satisfaction, stating, “I found three ‘thumbs up’ in Samcheok today. That’s why it’s Samcheok!” The preview that followed teased a ‘Red Taste’ special in Gangneung, building anticipation for the next episode.
MBN and Channel S’s ‘Jun Hyun-moo Plan 3’ airs every Friday at 9:10 PM.
