Sleeping for 3 hours and doing fasted cardio... U-Know Yunho's 24th year
U-Know Yunho's intense fasted cardio routine in his 24th year since debut and Yoon Nara's '300-times' tenacity of washing rice 300 times were revealed through MBC Omniscient Interfering View.
The daily life of TVXQ's U-Know Yunho, now in his 24th year since debut, remains as intense as ever. In the 407th episode of MBC's 'Omniscient Interfering View' broadcast on the 18th, the lives of U-Know Yunho, who strives for perfection by cutting back on sleep, and Yoon Nara, the 'Yoon Ju-mo' who washes rice 300 times for traditional liquor, were depicted in parallel.
U-Know Yunho's Routine: Choosing Exercise Over Sleep
After finishing an event, U-Know Yunho put on his running shoes as soon as he opened his eyes, even after getting only three hours of sleep. This was to begin his fasted cardio exercise, which he has practiced every single day for over a year. His daily routine consists of habits carried over from his trainee days. He writes a 'Passion Diary' to record ideas, reads one page of a book every day, and takes time to read fan letters. The coin piggy bank he has been filling since his trainee days to use for good causes shows his unchanging attitude.
The hardships of his trainee days, when he endured living in saunas and homelessness while commuting between Gwangju and Seoul and working various part-time jobs, became the roots that sustain him. He gives handwritten letters and even gifts custom-made suits to his manager, Byeon Si-woo, whom he has worked with for five years. Watching how U-Know Yunho works harder behind the scenes and takes meticulous care of those around him, Manager Byeon said, "I must serve this hyung well."
The process of preparing for his first solo concert was even more intense. U-Know Yunho led meetings by directly gathering opinions from all departments, including directing, styling, hair, makeup, and MD. Even while suffering from back pain, he shouted "One more time" while performing the choreography for 'Thank U' and his new song 'Time's Tickin''. It was only after he personally visited the music video editing room to check cuts and details that he could have his first meal with his close friend DinDin after 10 PM. DinDin was flabbergasted by U-Know Yunho, who pushed through rehearsals even in a typhoon and showed him a 2-hour and 40-minute concert video on an airplane, asking, "Do you have a debt to pay? Why do you live like this?"
The Persistence of 'Sambak-se': Washing Rice 300 Times
Yoon Nara, a TOP5 contestant from 'Culinary Class Wars 2' and a 'liquor-brewing Yoon Ju-mo,' was building her own culinary world while managing earthenware jars that filled her apartment balcony. She prepared abundant breakfast tables using only ingredients in her refrigerator, such as making stir-fried pork with homemade quick gochujang or boiling stews using deeply brewed broth and makjang. She finished her meal with her own unique combinations, from egg rice paired with salted hairtail to makjang stew wraps. Although she never formally learned cooking, she makes her own fermented pastes and salted seafood and completes menus spontaneously.
The tenacity she showed at the traditional liquor brewery even surprised U-Know Yunho. Going beyond the 'Baek-se' (washing rice 100 times) recorded in literature, she insisted on 'Sambak-se,' washing the rice a staggering 300 times. Her notebook was filled with dense records during the process of researching new liquors by steaming rice in a traditional sil-siru and adding pine shoots and bokbunja (black raspberries). The act of personally crafting liquor glasses and bottles also shows her sincerity. Watching Yoon Nara's work process, U-Know Yunho said, "To create one's own scent, time and pain are required. I think I will watch today's video several times."
Traditional Liquor Pairing and a Twist Performance
When evening service begins, Yoon Nara transforms into the leader of the kitchen. Her ability to pair various snacks like Tangpyeong-chae, boiled pork, tteokbokki, and potato pancakes with traditional liquor was outstanding. After finishing business, she showed a surprising charm by meeting her classmates from the film department at Seoul Institute of the Arts to engage in an impromptu rap battle or sing 'I'm Okay' passionately. She was active in a hip-hop club during her college years.
