tvN’s new variety show ‘Undercover Chef’ is ramping up anticipation by revealing the extreme “Undercover Employment DAY 1” of three top chefs.
In the preview for the first episode released on the 14th, Sam Kim, Jung Ji-sun, and Kwon Sung-jun are deployed as “maknaes” in kitchens across different countries. Stripping away their fancy titles, they must focus on survival-style adaptation. Their first day was a continuous cycle of confusion and tension.
First, Sam Kim, who infiltrated Parma, Italy, with a fake identity as a former farmer, suffers the humiliation of becoming a “background” in the kitchen. In a fast-paced environment, he politely asks, “Is there anything I can do?” only to receive a firm “NO.” His flustered attempts to find his place in the corner of the kitchen are sure to bring laughs.
Jung Ji-sun headed to Chengdu, China, entering the kitchen boldly after an interview with a shocking fake identity as a former “boxing player.” However, she is defeated by the spicy taste of local ingredients. She shudders upon encountering unimaginable ingredients, such as frogs that seem to be alive. Even the “Queen of Chinese Cuisine” screams in the kitchen, signaling that this undercover life is far from easy.
Kwon Sung-jun, who pretended to be a former “baseball player” in Naples, Italy, also faces unexpected ingredient humiliation. Despite dominating cooking survivals with precise techniques, he handles potatoes messily, leading a local senior to snap, “This is how you peel potatoes!” The bewildered expression of the “Napoli Matpia” as he is bombarded with Italian nagging over his potato-peeling skills makes his “maknae adaptation period” highly anticipated.
However, the effort to hide their identities is short-lived as their ingrained “chef instincts” become a variable. Their professional-level knife skills and handling suddenly slip out, leading local colleagues to cast suspicious glances and ask, “Have you worked in a restaurant before?” With their positions at risk if discovered, fans are curious to see how they will overcome these crises from day one and climb to the top of the kitchen within five days.
The production team stated, “Real situations that even the staff didn’t expect are unfolding. The process of growth and survival as they start from the bottom and challenge the top of the kitchen in five days will provide viewers with both fresh fun and thrilling catharsis.”
Meanwhile, tvN’s ‘Undercover Chef’ will premiere on Thursday, May 21, at 8:40 PM.
