"From Gamjatang to Leng Saap"... K-pop Stars Engage in 'Borderless' K-Food Talk

A new format talk show where global K-pop stars gather to communicate through food has been announced. Mnet Plus original 〈IDOL'S TABLE〉 is a global food talk show where participants share stories about their respective hometown foods and familiar Korean dishes.

A Connection with 'K-Food' Continuing Since Trainee Days

In the released video, the participants candidly revealed the reasons they were introduced to Korean food and their personal preferences. One participant chose the gamjatang they ate when they first arrived in South Korea as their first food, sharing an anecdote that they loved it so much they ordered gamjatang every day during their trainee days. In particular, they showed familiarity with Korean food culture by expressing specific preferences, such as the method of pulling meat from between the bones or eating nurungji (scorched rice) at the end of the meal.

Another participant mentioned experiencing the cultural flavors of Korea by referring to tteokmanduguk (rice cake and dumpling soup) and jeon (pancakes) eaten during Seollal. On the other hand, BamBam chose Seoul's jeyukbokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) as his first "entry" Korean dish. Having first encountered tteokbokki, hot dogs, and rabokki in Bali, he thought he would have to eat them in South Korea, and he expressed his affection for Korean food by mentioning the texture of the rice cakes. Another participant stated a preference for Korean ramen over Indonesian ramen, expressing that they could eat up to three packs of Korean ramen.

"Thailand's Leng Saap, Japan's Nikujaga"... Empathy Through Similar Foods by Country

The participants continued their conversation by sharing foods that are popular in their respective hometowns or overseas. A participant from Jeonju emphasized the taste of Jeonju, and they conveyed local food culture trends, such as the rosé tteokbokki culture in Osaka or the Bangji case in Jakarta, Indonesia. Mentions also continued regarding the combination of K-sweet potato and kimchi, which is popular among office workers in the United States.

In particular, they formed a sense of empathy by comparing foods from various countries that have similar forms to Korean food. It was shared that Thailand's 'Leng Saap' was eaten deliciously because it is similar to Korea's gamjatang, and it was also mentioned that Japan's 'Nikujaga (Nikujagaya)' is similar to Korea's beef and potato braise. An explanation followed that Indonesia's 'Soto Ayam' gives a similar feeling to Korea's dakgomtang (chicken soup).

Sharing Dining Experiences Through Language and Culture

Conversations about expressions used in various countries when eating added more interest. In addition to laughter-mixed expressions like Korea's 'keu-keu-keu', it was introduced that in Thailand, the expression 'Enna madat' is used, or there are expressions like 'seugeureu' to indicate coolness. The participants concluded the conversation by mentioning Korean seasonal ingredients such as dureup (angelica kerrii) and meowi (devil's club), and talking about the Korean eating habit of dipping them in cho-gochujang (vinegared red chili paste) or doenjang (soybean paste).

Meanwhile, this video, which was pre-released through Mnet Plus, will be released for the first time on Mnet Plus on Tuesday, October 6 at 8 PM, and will continue through the main broadcast on Mnet on Wednesday, October 7 at 8 PM.