Comedian and restaurateur Lee Bong-won and Paeng Hyun-sook are set to engage in a heartfelt business showdown.
The JTBC entertainment program ‘Showdown! Paeng Bong Paeng Bong’ (directed by Lee Jin-joo and Shin Hye-won), which will premiere on April 19 at 7:10 PM, features the two leading comedians, Lee Bong-won and Paeng Hyun-sook, who are deeply invested in the restaurant industry, competing by opening two restaurants side by side on a small island abroad. Ahead of the first broadcast, the owners of Bong Restaurant, Lee Bong-won, and Paeng Restaurant, Paeng Hyun-sook, share their motivations for participating and their resolutions, raising expectations.
First, Lee Bong-won stated, “Leaving aside business and competition, I decided to participate because I could challenge something together with my long-time comedy partners Choi Yang-rak and Paeng Hyun-sook. As colleagues in the restaurant industry, I thought we could share our know-how and experiences and provide each other with positive stimulation.” He also added that he learned a lot and felt warm camaraderie during their journey together.
Paeng Hyun-sook explained, “After getting married, I spent more time running a restaurant than in the entertainment industry. Since I am still operating it, I consider myself more of a self-employed person than an entertainer.” She continued, “Having run a restaurant for a long time, I know how challenging it can be, and I thought that through ‘Showdown! Paeng Bong Paeng Bong,’ I could highlight the hard work of self-employed individuals running restaurants. I also saw it as an opportunity to fulfill my dream of running a restaurant with a view of the sea, which is why I decided to participate.”
In preparation for her showdown with Lee Bong-won, Paeng Hyun-sook revealed her ‘Family Dining Strategy’ for victory. “Before being a restaurant owner, I am a housewife and a mother, so I try to serve food as if it were for my family, with a clean and generous approach,” she said. “In this competition, I plan to serve guests with generous portions without skimping on ingredients. I believe that guests will recognize this sincerity.”
On the other hand, Lee Bong-won remarked, “Jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) holds great significance for me, so my affection for it naturally influenced my menu choice.” He added, “Paeng is a veteran who has been in business much longer than I have, and my experience is relatively short, so my strategy and resolution were to focus on properly expressing my love for jjamppong.” He also mentioned that it was meaningful to directly check how well-loved jjamppong is among foreigners.
Meanwhile, Lee Bong-won referred to Lee Eun-ji and Kwak Dong-yeon, who worked at Bong Restaurant, as “the top part-timers,” sparking curiosity. He praised, “Lee Eun-ji’s proactive attitude and dedication, based on her tough kitchen part-time experience, were impressive,” and “Kwak Dong-yeon skillfully handled foreign customers with his excellent English skills, which helped ensure smooth overall restaurant operations.”
At Paeng Restaurant, Paeng Hyun-sook’s husband, Choi Yang-rak, has joined the staff. Paeng Hyun-sook said, “Having spent so many years together, we really know each other well now. Although we don’t always sync perfectly, he has always supported me well and I’m grateful for his encouragement, even when he must be struggling himself. I would give him a perfect score as an employee.”
Regarding part-timer Yoo Seung-ho, she expressed, “Thanks to Yoo Seung-ho’s planned and meticulous approach, I received great help in running the restaurant. He is an indispensable talent at Paeng Restaurant.” She added, “Even after business hours, he would plan for the next day or take care of things that Choi Yang-rak and I might overlook, which often moved me. I was happy to work with such a considerate person like Yoo Seung-ho.”
Thus, the genuine business diaries of Bong Restaurant owner Lee Bong-won and Paeng Restaurant owner Paeng Hyun-sook will be revealed in JTBC’s ‘Showdown! Paeng Bong Paeng Bong,’ which premieres on April 19 at 7:10 PM.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
