Lee Eun-ji, Mimi, Lee Young-ji, An Yu-jin, part-time job at a Goheung rice cake shop

'Earth Arcade' members finally face their punishment

Lee Eun-ji, Mimi, Lee Young-ji, and An Yu-jin have reunited. tvN announced that the spin-off variety show 'Uju Rice Cake Shop,' featuring the four members, will premiere on the 31st at 8:35 PM. This program is an extension of 'Earth Arcade 2,' which aired in 2023. The members, who failed to complete the escape room mission set by Torong in the previous season, now take on a new challenge—working part-time at a rice cake shop—to fulfill their promised punishment.

The production is handled by Egg is Coming, which houses PD Na Young-seok's production team. They have proven their solid teamwork through 'Earth Arcade' Seasons 1 and 2, and more recently, the 2024 spin-off 'Earth Arcade: Driving,' which captured the members' travels. The core of 'Uju Rice Cake Shop' also lies in the unrivaled chemistry between the members shown in the previous series.

The harsh daily life of the Goheung rice cake shop starting at 5 AM

The teaser video released on the 9th shows the 'Uju Rice Cake Shop' store located in Goheung, Jeollanam-do. The members start work at 5 AM and dive into the serious business of making rice cakes. In the video, the kitchen is filled with thick steam billowing from the hot rice cake steamers, creating enough heat that the members' silhouettes appear blurry. Even in this situation, the members show themselves enjoying the moment without stopping their work.

In particular, Lee Young-ji's clumsy charm as the main chef catches the eye. In a situation where the kitchen is completely covered in steam, the production crew gives a hint, saying, "Young-ji, by the way, there's one thing you haven't done," but Lee Young-ji is unable to figure it out for a long time. The scene where she finally realizes she didn't turn on the ventilation fan and hurriedly operates it hints at the chaotic episodes to come.

"The shop is burnt out, but the customers' taste buds are OK" Retro-style poster

The main poster released alongside the video captures the four members starting their business at the Goheung store. Along with the powerful slogan "Freshly made rice cakes for sale!", visuals of chewy-looking Garae-tteok (long rice cakes) are displayed. The store atmosphere evokes a retro vibe, approaching viewers with a sense of familiarity. At the bottom of the poster, a witty phrase is written: "While the shop is full of burnout, we will do our best to ensure there is no impact on the customers' taste buds."

This phrase directly expresses the hardships and tribulations the members will face in the new environment of running a rice cake shop. The joy and sorrow of these individuals challenging themselves to an unfamiliar job like working at a rice cake shop is the key viewing point of this spin-off.

The continuous spin-off journey of Na Young-seok's crew and the 'Earth Arcade' members

PD Na Young-seok and Egg is Coming have met viewers through various spin-offs with the 'Earth Arcade' members. Starting with 'Earth Arcade' set in Thailand in 2022, they created a flow that continued through Season 2 to travel variety shows. Beyond being a simple variety show, 'Uju Rice Cake Shop' increases the immersion of existing fans by connecting the narrative of the previous season's mission failure to the realistic fulfillment of the punishment.

Their tearful challenge set against the backdrop of a small rice cake shop in Goheung can be watched on the tvN channel on the 31st at 8:35 PM.

Lee Young-ji as the main chef, role distribution of the four members

In this program, Lee Eun-ji, Mimi, Lee Young-ji, and An Yu-jin will act as part-time workers at the rice cake shop. In particular, Lee Young-ji has taken on the role of the main chef in charge of the kitchen.

The production crew captured the process of the members performing their roles by giving hints to Lee Young-ji in the teaser video, such as asking if the ventilation fan was turned on.

The rice cake shop part-time job triggered by mission failure

The starting point of this spin-off goes back to 'Earth Arcade 2' aired in 2023. At that time, the four cast members failed to complete the escape room mission prepared by Torong. 'Uju Rice Cake Shop' was planned to carry out the punishment resulting from this mission failure.

The teaser video released on the 9th, based on this background, captures the process of the members fulfilling the task of working part-time at a rice cake shop.