Chef Lee Moon Jung confesses, "I worked while hiding my pregnancy"

Chef Lee Moon Jung, who shot to stardom through Netflix's 'Culinary Class Wars,' has candidly opened up about the anxiety lurking behind her sudden popularity. Appearing on KBS 2TV's 'Malja Show,' which airs at 9:30 PM on the 27th, Lee shared her life as a star chef standing under the bright spotlight and the personal struggles she has faced along the way.

During the broadcast, Lee Moon Jung confessed that while she is feeling the weight of her recent popularity, a sense of insecurity has always resided in a corner of her heart. "Just as they say, 'early blooming flowers wither early,' I gained sudden fame through the halo effect of 'Culinary Class Wars,' and I worry that this interest might vanish overnight," she revealed. The sudden public attention is both a joy and a fear of when it might end. In response to her confession, 'Malja Grandma' Kim Young-hee offered warm consolation, creating a heartwarming atmosphere on set.

The Conservative Walls of Chinese Cuisine and Why She Had to Hide Her Pregnancy

Lee Moon Jung's confession went beyond mere anxiety about fame. Listening to the concerns of a stay-at-home mother audience member dreaming of becoming a working mom, she shared her own realistic experiences. Lee recalled a time when she tried to continue working until the very end while hiding her pregnancy. This touches upon the conservative atmosphere of the Chinese cuisine industry, where female chefs are rare and concerns about career breaks are high.

In fact, Chef Jung Ji-sun previously revealed on 'Problem Child in House' that she worked until the day before giving birth to survive in the conservative Chinese cuisine scene. Jung also confessed that she only revealed her pregnancy after completing major competitions due to fears of a career break. Lee Moon Jung also experienced the conflict between work and childcare firsthand within these unique industry circumstances, offering sincere advice and encouragement to those dreaming of becoming working moms.

Chef Jung Ho-young's Pride and His Transformation into a Dancing Machine

Also appearing on the broadcast was 'star chef' Jung Ho-young, who showcased a different charm from Lee Moon Jung. Introducing himself as a 'dancing machine,' Jung displayed significant confidence. "I was here before Jung Ji-sun, Kwon Seong-jun, and Choi Kang-rok became famous," he said, showing his pride as a first-generation star chef, and made the studio erupt in laughter with the playful joke, "If you don't know me, you shouldn't even step foot into the world of 'star chefs.'"

Jung Ho-young also mentioned survival strategies that go beyond mere cooking skills. Emphasizing that "you can't make a living just by cooking," he took to the stage impromptu during the show to take on the ATEEZ 'BAD' challenge. He displayed a surprising charm, completely different from his image as a chef, by recreating the nonchalant expression and restrained hand movements of ATEEZ member San.

Sincere Advice from Senior Chefs to Juniors Chasing Their Dreams

Beyond their personas as stars, the two chefs listened to the concerns of the audience as life and culinary mentors. In particular, Jung Ho-young stepped forward to address the story of a high school sophomore who dreams of becoming a star chef. Jung offered sincere advice to the junior, leading the atmosphere with a twist at the end that left the studio in stitches.

This episode of 'Malja Show' provided a multi-dimensional look at the human struggles and realistic survival methods hidden behind the glamorous lives of star chefs, intersecting Lee Moon Jung's hidden anxieties with Jung Ho-young's playful energy. The two chefs went beyond being mere guests, acting as 'fairies' of life by laughing and crying along with the various concerns of the audience. Their detailed stories and Jung Ho-young's unexpected advice can be seen on KBS 2TV on the 27th at 9:30 PM.

A Counseling Center for Chefs with Kim Young-hee

'Malja Grandma' Kim Young-hee, the host of KBS 2TV's 'Malja Show,' acts as a supporter, listening to the concerns of the two guest chefs and offering comfort. When Chef Lee Moon Jung confessed her anxiety regarding her popularity, Kim Young-hee empathized and provided sincere consolation.

Chef Jung Ho-young also participated in the stories of the audience members present. He continued the counseling by offering advice as a senior chef to a high school sophomore dreaming of becoming a star chef.

“If you don't know me, you shouldn't step foot into the world of star chefs”

During the broadcast, Chef Jung Ho-young unabashedly displayed his pride as a first-generation star chef. He showed confidence, stating, "I was here before Jung Ji-sun, Kwon Seong-jun, and Choi Kang-rok became famous." He then made the crowd laugh with the witty remark, "If you don't know me, you shouldn't even step foot into the world of 'star chefs.'"

He also added realistic advice for survival, emphasizing, "You can't make a living just by cooking." Along with this statement, he performed an impromptu stage by taking on the ATEEZ 'BAD' challenge.

The Birth of Star Chefs and Their Changing Status

Since the conclusion of the Netflix culinary survival program 'Culinary Class Wars,' the status of the cast members has changed drastically. Along with the program's success, Chef Lee Moon Jung has gained massive public recognition, rising to the ranks of new star chefs.

This shift has also influenced the status of existing star chefs. Jung Ho-young emphasized his position as a first-generation star who has been active since before junior chefs like Jung Ji-sun, Kwon Seong-jun, and Choi Kang-rok gained attention, asserting his presence amidst the changing trends of the culinary world.