Hwang Kwanghee Reveals Desire to Leave 'Street Food Business'

On April 7, during the press conference for JTBC's new variety show '길바닥 밥장사' (Street Food Business) held at the Stanford Hotel in Sangam-dong, Seoul, broadcaster Hwang Kwanghee admitted that he considered leaving the show. He humorously noted, "I thought about quitting, but then I realized I’m 38 years old."

'길바닥 밥장사' features passionate food enthusiasts who travel through Spain on food bikes, showcasing Korean cuisine and recipes. The show stars renowned home-cook influencer Ryu Soo-young (류수영) and Michelin-starred chef Fabrice (파브리), who will kick off their culinary journey in Cádiz, Spain.

Alongside Ryu Soo-young and Fabrice, Hwang Kwanghee will operate a mobile kitchen called 'Food Bike' with Shin Hyun-ji (신현지), Bae In-hyuk (배인혁), and Jeon So-mi (전소미). The show promises unique experiences that can only be found in a bicycle restaurant.

Hwang Kwanghee, who will take on the role of a supporting chef, explained, "I’ve always assisted chefs, which led to frequent offers for food-related programs. However, it became a bit overwhelming. I’m good at supporting, not necessarily cooking. So, I thought this would be a great opportunity to try my hand at cooking and travel abroad."

He also shared the challenges he faced, stating, "I worked closely with the main writer, but after three episodes, it became really tough. I wondered, 'How could this happen to me?' The response was, 'We called you because you’re you. Please treat it like it’s your last chance.' I almost called the company to quit, but then I thought, 'I’m 38; I need to see this through to become an adult.'"

Producer Kim added, "He wrote in his diary every day about wanting to quit, often in tears."

When asked who the head chef was between Ryu Soo-young and Fabrice, Kim responded, "Both are head chefs. They sometimes take on different menus, but they’ve also opened multiple locations together. It’s a battle of pride between them, creating a unique tension." Hwang Kwanghee chimed in, saying, "It really kept changing, which was quite surprising!"

'길바닥 밥장사' is set to premiere on April 8 at 10:40 PM KST.