'How do you play?' Yoo Jae-seok has been misunderstood by 'Solitary Gourmet' Matsushige Yutaka for his picky taste.
On the broadcast of MBC's 'How do you play?' on the 22nd, Yoo Jae-seok, Lee Ik-kyung, and Shim Eun-kyung were seen eating gwaremi and tail soup with 'Solitary Gourmet' Matsushige Yutaka.
That day, Yoo Jae-seok and Lee Ik-kyung followed Shim Eun-kyung to a gwaremi restaurant and were surprised to see 'Solitary Gourmet' Goro Matsushige Yutaka waiting there. It turned out that Shim Eun-kyung had met him at the 'Busan International Film Festival' before.
While eating gwaremi, Yoo Jae-seok expressed his excitement, saying, "It's such an honor to see Matsushige when he eats," and Lee Ik-kyung added, "He eats so deliciously." Yoo Jae-seok said, "Although I met you for the first time today, I feel a strong inner connection. I actually watched the episode where you ate Cheonggukjang about a week ago. That made me order Cheonggukjang."
Moreover, he imitated Matsushige's way of eating the broth on 'Solitary Gourmet,' while saying, "I heard that Matsushige really likes Makgeolli." Additionally, he claimed, "I don't know if this is appropriate to say, but Matsushige resembles me a bit," to which Matsushige replied, "Do you mean the glasses?" Yoo Jae-seok clarified, "It's not the glasses; there's a somewhat similar vibe, don't you think?" When he suggested, "We should do something together," Matsushige lit up and said, "Sounds good, 'Solitary Gourmet' and 'Solitary Picky Eater.'"
Matsushige asked, "Are you picky? What can't you eat?" Yoo Jae-seok replied, "If I have to specify, there's nothing I can't eat, but..." He trailed off. Lee Ik-kyung remarked, "Don't you not like fish?" Yoo Jae-seok said, "I don't particularly like raw fish," but added, "Gwaremi is okay." Shim Eun-kyung inquired, "What about sashimi?" Yoo Jae-seok explained, "I eat sashimi, but it depends on the occasion; sometimes I eat it, sometimes I don't." Consequently, Lee Ik-kyung revealed, "He's a very picky person."
Matsushige also mentioned that he does not like raw fish, but noted Yoo Jae-seok's preference for sushi, commenting, "That's a strange sort of pickiness." Yoo Jae-seok worriedly replied, "Matsushige will misunderstand me. He might think I'm a picky person." Matsushige said, "So this (gwaremi) is okay? Then the people around you might find it tough," and Lee Ik-kyung added, "That's why you have no friends. Even family shakes their heads at you," exasperatedly gesturing. Upon hearing this, Yoo Jae-seok exclaimed, "You're making me sound like a crank!" causing laughter.
Yoo Jae-seok asked, "How do you eat so deliciously, Matsushige?" Matsushige explained, "Isn't the best time to eat when you're hungry? I don't eat dinner the night before a shoot, and when the staff eat lunch, I just observe. It's the satisfaction of having a single spoonful when you're really hungry," adding, "It's real. The places are genuine, and the food is real. While it's called a drama genre, it also has a documentary-like quality. You can think of it as a documentary drama."
Later, when Yoo Jae-seok asked, "Do you usually eat a lot of food?" Matsushige replied, "I don't eat much usually and eat small amounts. However, when I'm filming, I eat a lot, but overall, my intake is small. During the filming period, I actually lose weight. As an actor, it's undesirable to have weight fluctuations while doing other work. I try to manage my body to maintain my weight." However, when asked, "I heard you walk home after filming. Is that true?" he clarified, "I go back and forth to the filming site in my car. I drive myself. I feel stressed when someone else is with me. I need that time in my car to memorize lines or reflect on the shoot, which isn't possible while being transported. Driving myself is not stressful."
He also mentioned the upcoming release of 'Solitary Gourmet: The Movie.' Matsushige, who directed, wrote, and acted in it stated, "I had to move back and forth at a very fast speed to monitor it. I made sure to check and direct it that way. It was tough but enjoyable."
Then, the four of them visited a tail soup restaurant in Namdaemun Market. Lee Ik-kyung asked Matsushige, "Do you know Yoo Jae-seok well?" Matsushige answered, "I know him. There's a very famous Japanese comedian, Akashiya Sanma. In Korea, Yoo Jae-seok is about the Sanma level." Lee Ik-kyung proudly noted, "20 Daesangs," to which Matsushige said, "I can tell from earlier that Yoo Jae-seok is very popular." Yoo Jae-seok replied, "Aren't you a famous national actor in Japan, Matsushige?" Matsushige humbly replied, "I'm not a national actor. I was actually surprised that more people in Korea recognize me. Eun-kyung is more famous in Japan than I am. She won a prestigious film award. Not just anyone can win the Best Actress award."
While eating tail soup, Matsushige remarked, "Everyone falls silent when eating this type of food. Is this going to be broadcast?" Lee Ik-kyung said, "Just having Matsushige here would be enough content." Yoo Jae-seok expressed, "It's such a great joy to eat with Matsushige in the same place. Thank you," and Matsushige replied, "Thank you for introducing me to this delicious restaurant. I could never have found such a place by myself." Yoo Jae-seok continued jokingly, "It might be easier for you to find it later since the owner will put up a sign saying 'Shim Eun-kyung, Matsushige came here.'"
Yoo Jae-seok asked Matsushige for recommended Japanese dishes, and Matsushige pondered, saying, "You mentioned you dislike raw food, right?" Yoo Jae-seok teased Lee Ik-kyung, saying, "I thought you didn't eat that at all, considering how you exaggerated," and clarified, "I don't entirely prefer it, but I do eat it." Matsushige then recommended eel dishes, and Yoo Jae-seok replied, "I also like eel."
Additionally, Yoo Jae-seok asked, "Since you've become close with my brother, please share a tasty restaurant. I don't know many, but Matsushige loves to eat at." Matsushige, appearing hesitant, mentioned, "Not okonomiyaki. When you say okonomiyaki, it's from the Kansai region. I went to a place for the first time last year, and I've never had such delicious okonomiyaki anywhere. It's in Sakai," and added, "In Sakai, okonomiyaki is even known from TV shows. I'll let you know the restaurant name secretly later; it's really small. I've never had such delicious okonomiyaki that the flavor of the sauce lingers in my mouth."
He also offered, "If you come to Japan, I'll guide you around." Lee Ik-kyung eagerly asked, "We're really looking forward to it," and Yoo Jae-seok affirmed, "I'll genuinely go once." Lee Ik-kyung joked, "I don't know about this man, but I will definitely go. Are you busy, brother?" Yoo Jae-seok replied, "I'm building connections with Matsushige. You have no idea how much of a fan I am," leading to more laughter. Matsushige responded, "If it's okonomiyaki, I'll treat you anytime. Please do come."
Yoo Jae-seok cautiously asked, "Since I've become close with Matsushige, can I tell others that we're friends?" Matsushige answered, "Of course," and Yoo Jae-seok emphasized, "Let's really go meet Matsushige someday. I really want to go once."
[Photo] OSEN DB, MBC
[OSEN=Reporter Kim Na-yeon]