North Korean Chef Lee Soon-sil Reflects on Family in Upcoming KBS2 Show

In the upcoming episode of KBS2's 'Park Won-sook's Let's Live Together' airing on January 23, North Korean chef Lee Soon-sil shares her heartfelt memories of family. Alongside fellow cast members Park Won-sook, Hye-eun, and Shin Gye-sook, the sisters learn about wild boar sightings in the Taebaek Mountains that have been damaging crops. They meet with experts to understand the serious implications of African Swine Fever (ASF), which can have a near 100% mortality rate in acute cases, necessitating strict management from search to capture. Using thermal imaging cameras, they track the movements of the wild boars and discover tracks believed to belong to the animals, heightening the tension.

Lee Soon-sil prepares a course meal filled with her life experiences, featuring dishes like imitation meat rice, radish pancakes, pollock kimchi, steamed cod, and handmade dumplings, collectively known as 'North Korean Speed Cooking.' As she cooks, she reminisces about her hometown and shares her poignant family history, recalling her parents who died in a tunnel explosion and her family forced into poverty. She expresses concern for her daughter, whom she lost contact with during her childhood, wondering if she is safe and well-fed. The sisters offer her comfort during this emotional moment. In a gesture of gratitude, Shin Gye-sook presents Lee Soon-sil with Dongpo pork, a dish that reflects her 37 years of culinary experience.

The episode also features a friendly rivalry between the practical Lee Soon-sil and the scholarly Shin Gye-sook. Lee showcases 'Nongma Guksu,' the original version of Hamheung cold noodles, which she learned to prepare while taking care of her eleven siblings. Meanwhile, Shin, a professor who has translated Qing dynasty cookbooks, shares a compilation of recipes she gathered during her studies in Taiwan. Additionally, Lee reveals her bold approach to love, recounting how she won her husband’s heart with passionate encounters, while Shin shares a daring story of a ten-minute kiss during a train ride.

Viewers can catch this emotional and flavorful episode on January 23 at 8:30 PM on KBS2's 'Park Won-sook's Let's Live Together.'